Compagnie St-Gobain - 1st Quarter Sales Figures

RNS Number:0781K
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
3 May 2000



            FIRST QUARTER 2000 CONSOLIDATED SALES

Net consolidated sales of Saint-Gobain Group for the first quarter of 2000
amounted to EUR6,275 million (FF41,161 million), a 22.9% increase relative to
the EUR5,106 million (FF33,493 million) for the same period in 1999. Based on
the comparable structure, sales increased by 14.8% in euro and 9.7% in local
currencies.

                      Q1 Sales,    Q1 Sales,                    Change based
                      1999         2000          Change based   on comparable
                      (in millions (in millions  on actual      structure and
                      of euro)     of euro)      structure      exchange rates

GLASS (1)                2,354        2,669          13.3%            6.6%
Flat Glass                 866        1,010          16.6%           11.6%
Insulation and 
 Reinforcements            637          761          19.4%           10.4%
Packaging                  854          900           5.4%           -1.2%

HIGH-PERFORMANCE 
MATERIALS (1)            1,054        1,458          38.3%            9.8%
Ceramics and High-
 Performance Plastics, 
 Abrasives                 658          974          47.9%            9.5%
Essilor                    395          485          22.5%           10.3%

HOUSING (1)              1,728        2,192          26.8%           14.7%
Building Materials         540          722          33.7%           14.3%
Building Distribution      894        1,086          21.5%           15.0%
Pipe                       333          430          29.0%           14.7%

INTERNAL SALES             -30          -44

TOTAL GROUP SALES        5,106        6,275          22.9%            9.7%

SALES BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
France                   1,841        2,164          17.5%           13.5%
Other European 
 countries               1,761        2,074          17.8%            7.1%
North America            1,336        1,800          34.7%            7.1%
Rest of the World          345          496          43.7%           20.6%

INTERNAL SALES            -177         -259

TOTAL GROUP SALES        5,106        6,275          22.9%            9.7%

(1) including inter-division eliminations

The Glass Sector has benefited in the first quarter from a dynamic economic
environment especially in Europe. In the United States, where the market remains
buoyant, growth is continuing.

The High Performance Materials Sector has evolved in its end-user markets in a
favourable climate for the first months of the year, and its American activities
have made a significant recovery in particular in the semi-conductors market.

The Housing Sector has shown strong levels of activity across all its business
areas. In Europe, the end-user markets for the Group's product are particularly
buoyant.

                 Investor Relations Department

Tel: Florence TRIOU + 33 1 47 62 45 19 - mailto: [e-mail]

Tel: Lounis BEKKAT  + 33 1 47 62 32 36 - mailto: [e-mail]

                    Fax: + 33 1 47 62 50 62

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