Flat glass sales at French-based global group Saint-Gobain rose by 4.8% in the first nine months of 2005 to Euros 3,432M, the company announced. At the same time glass packaging sales rose by 0.1% to Euros 2,898M and sales of glass fibre reinforcement stayed static at Euros 962M. Insulation sales, mainly glass fibre, rose by 7.7% to Euros 1,601M. The company says flat glass sales were buoyed by strong construction industry sales in Europe and in developing countries. Packaging sales fell slightly in Europe, particularly in Germany, but Saint-Gobain was able to offset this with price rises. US glass packaging figures were hit by the very steep rises in gas prices. Insulation materials did very well, as did the group's other interests in building materials.
