Record-level construction orders for Bouygues

Bouygues Construction has reported a record €30.2 billion of orders on the book for 2016, representing a 4% year-on-year—6% at constant exchange rates—growth, as compared with 2015.

Both French and international markets have contributed to this increase. French orders stood at €14.2 billion by the end of December 2016, which was up 7% year-on-year. As for international markets, the order book came to €16 billion at the end of 2016, representing a 2% year-on-year increase—6% at constant exchange rates.

Sales in the business fell 4% year-on-year to €25 billion in 2016. This, according to Bouygues, was a result of a negative impact from the exchange rate effect and a scope effect following the sale by Colas, its roads division, of its bitumen storage and sales activities in Asia, as well as the discontinuation of its refining activity in France. Therefore, like-for-like and at constant exchange rates, sales were down 1%.

Current operating profit was €879 million in 2016, up €48 million year-on-year, and the current operating margin rose 0.3 points to 3.5%.

Operating profit was €781 million after non-current charges of €98 million. Net profit came to €754 million, €175 million more than in 2015.