France: Saint-Gobain's net income has risen by 36% year-on-year to Euro1.3bn in 2015 from Euro953m in 2014. Its sales revenue rose by 3.3% to 39.6bn from 3.4bn. However, its overall sales volumes remained static with only 0.1% growth. Growth in the company's Flat Glass and Interior Solutions divisions, including wallboard and insulation, held up sales despite sharp declines in sales in France.

"Saint-Gobain delivered improved earnings in 2015 in a sharply contrasted economic climate. The improvement was dampened by continued weak trading in France, hurt in particular by the sharp contraction in our Pipe division in the second half of the year, despite the first signs of an upturn in construction indicators. The group completed a key stage in the reorganisation of its business portfolio, with the sale of Verallia on very favourable terms, and continues to pursue its plan to acquire a controlling interest in Sika after obtaining all antitrust approvals prior to closing the deal," said Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain.

The group's Interior Solutions division reported a 7.1% rise in sales revenue to Euro6.49bn from Euro6.06bn. Reduced volumes and prices in the French market slowed growth in Western Europe, although this impact eased in the fourth quarter of 2015. Trading in North America was dented by a slight dip in prices in the second half and by the decline in the Canadian market. Asia and emerging countries continued to deliver growth.

Colombia: Knauf Colombia has acquired Paneltec, a local gypsum wallboard producer. The acquisition enlarges the wallboard manufactures footprint to a second plant in the country.

"We at Knauf are happy to welcome into our family Paneltec, a company that has earned recognition in our country and the region," said Miguel Rangel Galvis, Knauf Colombia General Manager. "With two industrial plants, the education and service that this operation will bring about in the next months and years, many more customers will be able to enjoy all the benefits of technology that Knauf develops for drywall construction in Colombia."

Knauf Colombia has a wallbaord plant in Cartagena. Paneltec began to produce plasterboard in its Barranquilla plant in 2008. Wallboard sales grew by 10% in 2015 in Colombia.

US: Continental Building Products sales fell slightly to US$422m in 2015 from US$425m in 2014. Despite this its net income rose by 5% to US$16.7m from US$15.9m. Wallboard volumes sales rose by 0.9% to 204Mm² from 203Mm².

New Zealand: Fletcher Building has reported that its net profit rose by 51% year-on-year to US$114m in the half year that ended on 31 December 2015 from US$75.6m in the same period in 2014. Its sales rose by 2.5% to US$2.94bn from US$2.87bn. It attributed this to growth in its building products and distribution businesses making up for weaker earnings from Formica and New Zealand housing developments.

Fletcher Building reported that gypsum wallboard volumes via its Building Products division rose by 9% in the half year. Volumes of performance board rose by 12%. Sales volumes of insulation rose by 12% in New Zealand and 9% in Australia. It noted that its market share has also improved in both insulation markets due to competitive pricing following the strengthening of the US Dollar.