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Lafarge SA was a French industrial company that specialized in cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete production. Founded in 1833 in Le Teil, France, the company grew into one of the world’s largest building materials manufacturers over nearly two centuries.

The company operated cement plants, quarries, and concrete facilities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Lafarge developed expertise in hydraulic lime production from the limestone quarries of Mont Saint-Victor in southern France.

In July 2015, Lafarge merged with Swiss rival Holcim to form LafargeHolcim. The combined entity later rebranded as Holcim in 2021. This merger created the world’s largest cement and building materials company with operations in over 70 countries.

Lafarge SA History

Lafarge SA Co-founders

Lafarge SA Market Cap

Before the 2015 merger, Lafarge maintained a market capitalization between €15 billion and €20 billion. The combined Holcim entity now holds a market cap of approximately $50.7 billion as of October 2025, ranking among the world’s most valuable building materials companies.

Lafarge SA Competitors

Lafarge competed with major global cement and building materials manufacturers. The industry saw significant consolidation through the 2000s and 2010s. Major competitors included regional leaders in Europe, North America, and emerging markets.

Lafarge SA Revenue

Lafarge generated approximately €15 billion in annual revenue before the merger with Holcim. The combined entity now reports revenues of CHF 26.4 billion (approximately $30 billion) for 2024. Europe and North America remain the strongest revenue regions.

Lafarge SA Acquisitions

Lafarge pursued aggressive expansion through acquisitions across multiple continents. The company’s growth strategy focused on entering emerging markets and consolidating positions in developed economies through strategic purchases.

The 2001 acquisition of Blue Circle Industries marked a pivotal moment in Lafarge’s history. Blue Circle was the world’s sixth-largest cement producer at the time. This deal transformed Lafarge into the global industry leader with operations spanning five continents.

Lafarge expanded into India through multiple transactions. The company acquired Tata Steel’s cement business in 1999, followed by Raymond Cement in 2001. In 2008, Lafarge purchased Larsen & Toubro’s ready-mix concrete operations for $349 million, establishing a strong Indian market presence.

The 2007 Orascom Cement Group acquisition brought significant operations across Africa and the Middle East. This Egyptian-based producer operated facilities in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The deal added substantial capacity in high-growth regions.

In 2006, Lafarge completed a $3 billion tender offer to acquire full control of Lafarge North America. This removed the subsidiary from the New York Stock Exchange and consolidated North American operations under direct parent company management.

Regional acquisitions included Hima Cement in Uganda (1999), facilities in Hungary and Nigeria through joint ventures, and multiple European operations. The company also divested non-core assets, selling most of its gypsum operations across Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia to focus on cement and aggregates.

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