France: Saint-Gobain’s Interior Solutions division’s net sales grew by 4.2% year-on-year to Euro5.33bn in the first nine months of 2018 from Euro5.11bn in the same period in 2017. The group said that division performance in the third quarter of 2018 was driven by pricing. Western Europe progressed slightly despite lower volumes in the UK. In North America, the acceleration in price increases in the quarter reduced sales volumes. Asia and emerging countries reported good growth. Overall, the group’s sales rose by 1.8% to Euro31.1bn from Euro30.6bn.
“Saint-Gobain continues along its growth trajectory despite a tough comparison basis in the third quarter of 2017. Our focus on increasing prices – critical in an inflationary environment – continues to pay off. The industrial issues that had weighed on our profitability in the first half of the year are largely behind us,” said Pierre-André de Chalendar, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Saint-Gobain.
