According to Saint-Gobain’s first quarter financial report, the group’s capital expenditure programme for 2019 is focused on growth outside Western Europe, together with an emphasis on productivity and digital transformation. First quarter 2019 sales stood at €10,378 million, which represents organic growth of 5.7%.

Asia-Pacific posted 7.7% organic growth, spurred by robust momentum in building glass. And India was boosted by additional sales following the start-up of its fifth float line. Elsewhere, Latin America also enjoyed strong growth momentum, notably in building glass and mortars, as improvements in Brazil gathered pace.