Lafarge Romcim, the local subsidiary of the French group Lafarge in Romania, saw a growth in sales of 24.2% in the first six months of this year, against the same period last year, due to the increase in the volume of sales by 21.4%, according to the group's annual report.
Company representatives did not wish to make further comments by the time this issue was ready for print.
The growth pace accelerated in the second quarter, considering that in the first three months, Lafarge's cement sales on the local market increased by some 15.4% against the same period last year.
Lafarge Romcim estimates turnover worth some 680 million RON (190 million euros), a 7% increase against last year. However, given the trend in the first six months of the year, initial forecasts could be exceeded.
The other divisions of the French in Romania will in turn witness a faster-paced growth, according to company representatives.
Lafarge is the world's biggest cement producer and is among the leaders of the construction materials industry.
The French group has, since its entry on the local market in 1997, invested over 300 million euros on the cement, concrete, aggregates, gypsum and roofing markets.
Lafarge prepares investments worth some 100 million euros in the 2006-2012 period, in the protection of the environment - to comply with the environmental norms of the European Union, and in improving productivity and service quality. The French last year invested 20 million euros on cement, aggregates and concrete markets, as well as on gypsum markets.
The significant demand on the Romanian market had the biggest contribution to the 93% growth in the operating income of the Lafarge division in the cement sector in Central and Eastern Europe, to 79 million euros from 41 million euros in the first six months of last year.
In Central and Eastern Europe, the group's cement sales increased by 27.5%. Lafarge's net profit went up in the first six months of the year to 548 million euros (699 million dollars), from 359 million euros a year ago.
Lafarge is one of the three groups that control the Romanian cement market, with the others being Holcim (Switzerland) and HeidelbergCement (Germany).
Lafarge Cement (formerly known as Lafarge Romcim), Lafarge Agregate si Betoane (Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete), and Lafarge Arcom Gips (Lafarge Arcom Gypsum) respectively represent the group's operations in Romania.
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