Building products group Kingspan reported an interim pre-tax profit of €37.5 million in what was an increase of 32.5 per cent on last year.
Turnover in the first six months of the year was €439.4 million, up 15.5 per cent on 2003, as the building boom lifted sales.
Sales growth reached double digits in Kingspan's main markets of Ireland, Britain, Europe and the United States.
In the United States, sales of Kingspan's raised-access flooring increased by 51 per cent from $23.7 million in the first half of 2003 to $35.9 million in the current period.
Kingspan said its two main raw materials, steel and chemicals, have risen in price and are likely to undergo further increases but as this is an industry wide problem, competitiveness should not be affected.
Kingspan said market conditions have improved during the course of 2004. Additionally, there is ever increasing pressure on architects and builders to reduce CO 2emissions, and Kingspan's range of insulated panels is well positioned to exploit this growing demand.