FIRST QUARTER 2000 CONSOLIDATED SALES

Net consolidated sales of the Saint-Gobain Group for the first quarter of 2000 amounted to _ 6,275 million (FF 41,161 million), a 22.9% increase relative to the _ 5,106 million (FF 33,493 million) for the same period in 1999. Based on a comparable structure, sales increased by 14.8% in euro and 9.7% in local currencies.

 
 Q1 Sales, 1999 (in millions of euro)
 Q1 Sales, 2000 (in millions of euro)
Change based on actual structure
Change based on comparable structure and exchange rates
GLASS (1)
2,354
2,669
13.3%
6.6%
Flat Glass
866
1,010
16.6%
11.6%
Insulation and Reinforcements
637
761
19.4%
10.4%
Packaging
854
900
5.4%
-1.2%
High-Performance Materials (1)
1,054
1,458
38.3%
9.8%
Ceramics and High-Performance Plastics, Abrasives
658
974
47.9%
9.5%
Essilor
395
485
22.5%
10.3%
Housing (1)
1,728
2,192
26.8%
14.7%
Building Materials
540
722
33.7%
14.3%
Building Distribution
894
1,086
21.5%
15.0%
Pipe
333
430
29.0%
14.7%
INTERNAL SALES
-30
-44
    
Total Group sales
5,106
6,275
22.9%
9.7%
SALES BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA        
France
1,841
2,164
17.5%
13.5%
Other European countries
1,761
2,074
17.8%
7.1%
North America
1,336
1,800
34.7%
7.1%
Rest of the world
345
496
43.7%
20.6%
INTERNAL SALES
-177
-259
    
Total Group sales
5,106
6,275
22.9%
9.7%

(1) including inter-division eliminations

The Glass Sector has benefited in the first quarter from a dynamic economic environment especially in Europe. In the United States, where the market remains buoyant, growth is continuing.

The High Performance Materials Sector has evolved in its end-user markets in a favourable climate for the first months of the year, and its American activities have made a significant recovery in particular in the semi-conductors market.

The Housing Sector has shown strong levels of activity across all its business areas. In Europe, the end-user markets for the Group’s products are particularly buoyant.

03/05/2000