Positive evolution in the second half of last year compensated for the decline registered in the first half.
Lafarge will be selling its Romanian operations to Ireland’s CRH in the first half of the year, as part of its merger with Swiss manufacturer Holcim.
At the beginning of February, CRH reached an agreement with Holcim and Lafarge to acquire the bulk of assets the two companies are selling, including those in Romania, for EUR6.5 billion.
Holcim and Lafarge agreed to merge in April last year to create the world’s largest cement producer, with annual sales totaling around EUR40 billion.
Globally, Lafarge cement sales rose 2% in volume in 2014, to 116.4 million tons.
Total sales generated revenues of EUR12.83 billion, down 2% from EUR13.09 billion in 2013. In Central and Eastern Europe, which includes Romania, revenues declined 7%, to EUR1.06 billion, from EUR1.14 billion in 2013.
The group’s net profit dropped to EUR143 million last year from EUR601 million in 2013, following a net loss of EUR145 million in the fourth quarter.