Saint-Gobain has posted moderate growth in sales for the first quarter of 2012 – up 3.7% to €10.16m from €9.8m in the corresponding 2011 quarter – and says it is continuing to deliver “a satisfactory trading performance”.
A 1% increase in sales was attributed to exchange rates, with gains in the US dollar and British pound against the euro cited. And changes in the Group structure, including the acquisition of Build Center last November, had “a positive 1.8% impact”.
Like-for-like sales edged up 0.9% and sales prices rose by 2.4% – volumes slipped by 1.5%, however.
The company says it has benefited from upbeat industrial markets in North America, “ongoing brisk growth” in Latin America and momentum in emerging markets. However, it said that its business in Asia had slowed significantly and trading was slightly weaker in western Europe.
