RNS Number:3287A
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
4 November 1999



                              SAINT-GOBAIN

              CONSOLIDATED SALES FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1999

The  consolidated net sales of the Saint-Gobain Group for the first nine  months
of 1999 amounted to EUR 16,721 million (FRF 109.683 million), compared with EUR
13,300  million  (FRF  87,241  million) for  the  same  period  of  1998.  This
represented  an  increase of 25.7% or 8.9% excluding Essilor and the  downstream
 Flat  Glass business. Based on a comparable structure, before full
consolidation of  Essilor  and the Flat Glass transformation subsidiaries, net
sales dropped 0.6% in euro but rose by 1.3% in local currencies.

The  confirmation of improved economic conditions in Europe helped the  increase
in  third  quarter  sales  across substantially all divisions,  offsetting  the
continued decline in Pipe sales.

Sales by sector, division and geographic area were as follows:

                             9 months      9 Months    Change   Change based
                             ended         ended                on comparable
                             September     September            structure and
                             30,1998       30,1999              In local
                                                                currencies
GLASS (1)                      6113         7522        23.0%       2.7%
Flat glass                     1705         2716        59.3%       4.2%
Insulation & Reinforcements    1830         2077        13.5%       5.1%
Containers                     2580         2731         5.8%       0.1%
HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS (1) 2106         3305         n.m       -2.9%

Industrial Ceramics and
     Abrasives                 2106         2085        -1.0%      -2.9%
Essilor                        ----         1220         ----      -----
HOUSING (1)                    5161         5994        16.1%       1.5%
Building Materials             1715         1968        14.8%       8.6%
Building distribution          2386         2995        25.5%       7.7%
Pipe                           1174         1149        -2.2%      -23.5%
INTERCOMPANY(INTER-SECTOR)
     SALES                      -80         -100         ---        ----
TOTAL SALES                   13300        16721        23.7%        1.3%

BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
France                         5210         6845        31.3%       -2.6%
Other Europe                   4014         5452        35.8%        2.7%
America/Asia                   4569         4952         8.4%        3.4%
INTERCOMPANY SALES             -493         -528        -----       -----
TOTAL SALES                   13300        16721        25.7%        1.3%

(1) before elimination of inter-divisional sales
     

Glass sector sales continued to grow, reflecting sustained demand in both Europe
and  the United States - especially in the construction market - and the effect
of price increases in the Insulation Division.

High-performance  materials sales were affected, as in the first  half-year,  by
weak  demand  for the electro-fused ceramics and refractories in the  Industrial
Ceramics Division. The Division's third quarter sales were up on the same period
of  1998,  however,  based on a comparable structure and  at  constant  exchange
rates.

Housing sector sales expanded at a similar rate as total  Group  sales,  on  a
comparable structure basis and at constant exchange rates, despite  lower  Pipe
Division  sales.  Sales by the Building Materials and Building Distribution
Divisions continued to grow, helped by the good level of activity in the  market
in the United States and France.

Outlook

The  Group confirms its objective of achieving at least  15%  growth  in  1999
earnings  per share, excluding capital gains and after taking into account  the,
impact of last Junes reduction of 5% of share capital.


Investor Relations Department 

Tel... Florence TRIOU  01 47 62 45 19
Tel... Lounis BEKKAT   01 47 62 32 36
                Fax :  01 47 62 50 62

END

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