European building materials supplier Saint-Gobain reported sales were up 5 percent on an organic basis in 2011 to 42.1 billion euros (US$55.4 billion) on profit of 1.28 billion euros (US$1.68 billion).

The Group reported that all of its geographic areas and business sectors contributed to growth in 2011, led especially by emerging countries and Asia and by industrial output in North America and Western Europe. However, markets related to capital spending slowed in the second half of the year. Sales growth also reflects the gradual upturn in residential construction and renovation markets in most major European countries in which the Group operates (France, Germany and Scandinavia).

North America, where Saint-Gobain also owns Norton Abrasives, reported a 5.5 percent organic growth rate for the year, buoyed by further advances in high-performance materials and by sales volume growth for construction products thanks to a temporary uptick in the renovation market after early-year storms in the U.S.

The company expects growth to slow in 2012 given the economic and financial crisis currently affecting Europe. Saint-Gobain said the outlook was “uncertain.” “We are therefore targeting moderate organic growth, driven mainly by the increase in sales prices needed to offset the rise in raw material and energy costs, while operating income and profitability should prove resilient,” the company said in a news release.

More details on the company’s 2011 earnings can be found here.