Compagnie St-Gobain - LAPEYRE's First Half Sales

RNS No 0430h
COMPAGNIE DE SAINT-GOBAIN
29th July 1997


                           FIRST HALF 1997 SALES

LAPEYRE's sales for the first six months of 1997 totaled FRF 2,638.6 million, up
3.8% from the year-earlier period.  On a Comparable structure basis (i.e.,
excluding activities in Italy which were terminated at the end of 1996), sales
rose by 4.2% in the first half.


in millions of            June 30, 1997  June 30, 1996   % Change  % change on
French francs                                                      a comparable
                                                                   structure

LAPEYRE and GME               1,969.0        1,897.5      +3.8        +4.4
SGM - OXXO - LES ZELLES         460.9          462.7      -0.4        -0.4
K PAR K                         208.7          182.4     +14.4       +14.4
TOTAL                         2,638.6        2,542.6      +3.8        +4.2

Sales for the second quarter of 1997 increased by 5.2% compared to the same
period in 1996.  LAPEYRE and GME sales rose by 6.4%.  The building trades
segment recorded satisfactory growth at SGM and LES ZELLES. OXXO sales, which
are recorded at completion of contract, declined from 1996 and do not reflect
the improvement in business.  Sales growth at K PAR K amounted to 12.2%.

LAPEYRE  -  Financial information:
Jean-Francois CORBINEAU
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


END