LAFARGE NORTH AMERICA of Herdon, Va., reported that net income for 2002 increased 15% despite the prolonged economic slowdown and return to normal winter weather conditions in the last three months of the years. For the full year 2002, Lafarge earned $268.4 million on revenue of $3.25 billion. In 2001, the company recorded net income of $234.1 million on $3.32 billion of revenue.

In the fourth quarter of 2002, the company posted net income of $71.8 million, compared with net income of $82 million in the fourth quarter of 2001, which was an all-time high for the company. Net sales for the most recent quarter of $811.1 million were 5% lower than the previous year.

Cement and other related operations recorded operating profit of $73.3 million in the most recent quarter, a 15% decline from the prior year. Cement sales volumes finished 420,000 tons below the previous year at 3.2 million tons. Full the full year, Lafarge's cement and related operations saw a slight decline in operating profit to $310.8 million from $313.9 million in 2001. For the year, cement shipments fell 4% to 13.8 million tons.

2002 consolidated sales at CIMENTS FRANCAIS saw growth of 4.7% to US$3.193 billion versus 2001 figures. Net income for the company in 2002 was US$226.7 million, up 15.3% against 2001. According to the company, the fourth quarter saw a fall off in the United States and a mild slowdown in the French market.

Mexico's CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. announced that its consolidated cement sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2002 were 15.6 million metric tons, up 5% compared with the fourth quarter of 2001, while ready-mix volumes were 10% higher at 4.9 million cu meters.

Fourth-quarter net sales declined 3% in dollar terms, compared with the year-earlier period, to US$1.6 billion. While sales in the company's operations in Spain increased, the decline was mostly due to lower sales volumes in the United States, as well as the difficult operating environment in Venezuela.

Cemex's Mexican operations reported net sales of US$635 million in the fourth quarter, a 3% decline versus the same period in 2001. Quarterly domestic cement sales volumes increased 6% for the quarter and 4% for the year. In the United States, Cemex's net sales were US$392 million, 13% lower than the fourth quarter of 2001. Quarterly EBITDA decreased 30% year-over-year, to US$86 million. Cement sales volumes decreased 8% for the quarter, and 5% for the year.

Cemex Colombia's domestic cement volume was 20% higher than the fourth quarter of 2001 and increased 2% for the year. Cemex Venezuela (which consolidates the company's operations in Panama and the Dominican Republic) reported a 39% decrease in domestic cement volumes, compared with the fourth quarter of 2001, and a 21% decline for the year.