Lafarge reports higher sales from Czech operations

Lafarge Cement's sales increased by nearly two per cent YoY to CZK992m (EUR37.6m) in 2016. The company expects a moderate growth or stagnation of the Czech market for this year, according to company spokeswoman Milena Hucanova.

The results benefitted from an increase in local consumption, Ms Hucanova told CTK Business News.

Full-year net profit amounted to CZK206m, up by 23 per cent YoY. The rise in net profit was also influenced by cost savings in terms of materials and energy consumption.

Last year Czech cement consumption rose by an estimated 2.5 per cent to 3.76Mt. While local demand continues to recover and is significantly up on the 2013 nadir of 3.19Mt, it is still well below the 2007 record of 5.04Mt.