鈥榁igorous鈥� construction markets across Europe help balance a slowdown in US growth as nine-month sales top 鈧�30bn

Saint-Gobain sales figures have been boosted by new European energy regulations. The materials giant said that sales in 鈥榲igorous鈥� European construction markets had helped to counter the slowdown in the US housing market.

Saint-Gobain increased sales by 20.1% for the first nine months of 2006 to 鈧�30,025 (拢20bn). It said that acquisitions had accounted for 12.8% of the growth and organic growth for the period was 6.3%.

The gypsum division, created when BPB was purchased last year, posted a sales growth of 13.3%

Saint-Gobain said the interior building solutions businesses were particularly strong and that growth was being particularly driven by new residential and commercial construction and renovation spending.

Across Europe Saint-Gobain said France markets remained buoyant while other Western nations, and Germany in particular, were experiencing an upswing in growth. In the US growth slowed to 2.2% in the final quarter.