Holcim has reported a successful start to the new year with investments in India and China create new growth potential. The Swiss major reported higher sales volumes across all segments for 1Q06.   Net sales were up 70 per cent to CHF 4.628bn. The group saw a 52 per cent rise in operating EBITDA to CHF 1.001bn and operating profit advanced 53 per cent to CHF 627m. Net income jumps 70 percent to CHF 273 million.

The global economy continued to expand at a favorable pace, thereby ensuring that demand for building materials also remained robust. Sales and quantities delivered rose in all segments. Sustained solid internal growth and the newly consolidated companies in the UK, the USA and India were responsible for this result, said Holcim in a statement.

Deliveries of cement were up by 24.7 percent YoY. Sales of aggregates rose significantly, recording an impressive 89.6 percent increase, and volumes of ready-mix concrete sold also achieved an above-average increase of 44.4 percent. Thanks to Aggregate Industries whose sales in the previous year were only incorporated into the consolidated accounts as of April, both segments in Europe and North America posted the strongest growth in percentage terms.