Australia-based Adelaide Brighton expects a slight improvement in sales as market challenges continue.

Managing director Mark Chellew said sales of the cement products would be marginally higher in 2012 than in 2011

Demand was robust in South Australia and Western Australia due to infrastructure and mining projects, but the timing of sales to those projects would influence the company's 2012 performance, he said

Adelaide Brighton made a net profit of A$148.4m in calendar 2011.