LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA posted a 24% improvement in net income for the second quarter with a net income of $107.0 million, compared with $86.7 million in the second quarter of 2001.

Net sales for the most recent quarter were down 4% to $891.7 million, compared with $929.8 million last year. While the quarter started out strong, unfavorable weather conditions in some markets, a challenging commercial sector, and lower shipments in June offset most of the early gains.

Lafarge's cement and cement-related products operations posted an operating profit of $100.8 million during the second quarter, a 4% increase from last year. Improved pricing and reduced costs helped offset lower cement shipments during the quarter. Revenue declined 1% to $345.3 million. Company-wide cement shipments of 3.9 million tons in the second quarter were 3% lower than last year. In Canada, sales volumes decreased 5% U.S. sales volumes declined 2%.

Monterrey, Mexico-based CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. announced that its cash earnings for second quarter 2002 increased 3% versus the same quarter of 2001, to US$418 million. The increase was mainly due to lower interest expense, which declined 34% compared to the second quarter of 2001.

Consolidated cash flow for the quarter was US$378 million, 26% higher than the same quarter a year ago.

Second-quarter net sales of US$1.74 billion declined 4% in dollar terms versus second quarter 2001. Higher net sales in the company's operations in Spain, Colombia, and Egypt were offset by lower revenues in the United States and Venezuela.