At the time it was to bring these capabilities to 40 million tonnes

China is already more than 10 of global capacity of Lafarge and it will continue to rise in power within the system. The first global cement there has 24 million tonnes of capacity, the equivalent of the total sales in Western Europe last year. "We said two years ago that we wanted to double our Chinese capabilities". "The day of today, on the basis of 35 million tonnes, we are still of double them, EC which means this time go to 70 million tonnes", said Bruno Lafont in an interview with the "Echos", on the occasion of his visit in China. At the time, it was to bring these capabilities to 40 million tonnes. However, with extensions of plants, they spend 35 million by the end of this year and 40 million next year.

Market consolidation

The group, which is the most important this non-Chinese cement in the country, invited, the week last in Shanghai, a thousand of its local partners (customers, suppliers and personalities) for the universal exhibition, as a partner of the French pavilion of this event organized on the theme "towards better cities".

The more than 10 million visitors expected at the French pavilion will increase local awareness of the group, but it is well on the field that take positions for the future, especially in China. The country represents more than half of world consumption of cement, but the market remains fragmented between cement 4,000, including much of small players to the obsolete sites, that the authorities prefer to close or do buy to reduce pollution. In this regard, Lafarge, who wants to focus its future growth on the four provinces of the southwest of the country where it is already present, received the week last clear demands of one of them, the city-province of Chongqing. End of 2010, with its current extensions, "Lafarge local capacity will increase from 6 to 10 million tonnes and we encourage it to buy up local companies." "It could have 10 million additional tonnes," has not hesitated to declare the Mayor of the city, Huang Qifan, allowing Bruno Lafont and the media. Issued a province the size of the Austria and the capital city boasts to be one of the largest metropolises in the world (with a metropolitan area that 32 million people), the proposal to double the presence of the Group has visibly delighted Lafarge managers and its leader, who is willing to study opportunities.

In another of its strongholds, the province of Sichuan, Lafarge will inaugurate a production line brand new on its site of Dujiangyan, which will become the third biggest cement group in September. It is a symbol, since Dujiangyan is located 21 kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake that devastated the Sichuan, causing more than 100,000 dead in May 2008.

In two years, the plant is not only relieved from the ashes but will have gained capabilities. What to attract slightly more favor with the authorities, after actively contributing to the reconstruction of the province through various initiatives and donations. They also won the head of Lafarge in Sichuan for being last year, one of the carriers of the Olympic flame...