Growing demand for infrastructure and residential construction led net sales at Cemex to increase by 8% in 2011 to US$15.1bn (£9.5bn).

The result for the fourth quarter of 2011 was US$3.7bn (£2.3bn), which was 6% higher than the corresponding period of 2010.

Operational earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 13% during the fourth quarter of 2011 to US$542m and increased 1% for the full year to US$2.3bn compared with 2010.

The increase in consolidated net sales for the quarter was due to higher volume and price in local-currency terms mainly from operations in Northern Europe, South, Central America and the Caribbean, and the United States.

Executive vice president of finance and administration Fernando González said: “This is the fifth consecutive quarter of top-line growth in our results. We are particularly pleased with the quarterly performance of our operations in Northern Europe; the South, Central America and Caribbean region; and the United States. Regarding our full-year results, we saw net sales and operating EBITDA growing for the first time in four years.”

Cemex sold assets for US$225m during 2011 and expects to sell an additional US$500m during this year.

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