French building materials group Saint-Gobain posted a strong rise in its consolidated sales for first-quarter 2011, up 12.2% to 9,799M/Euros from 8,737M/Euros in first-quarter 2010. Exchange rates accounted for a 2.6% increase in sales, mainly attributable to sharp gains in Scandinavian currencies and most emerging country currencies (particularly the Brazilian Real) against the Euro. Changes in Group structure had a neutral impact overall, with sales contributions from acquisitions carried out over the past 12 months fully offset in the first quarter by the impact of the Advanced Ceramics divestment at December 31, 2010. Sales trends at both constant exchange rates and like-for-like (comparable Group structure and exchange rates) were therefore identical, up 9.6%. Volumes climbed 7.6% while sales prices moved up 2.0% (versus a rise of 1.4% in second-half 2010).
