Lafarge said on Monday it would increase its gypsum production by 20 per cent, through an investment of 300 million euros ($362.5m).  The world’s biggest cement maker said the expansion would take place over the next 2 years and boost its gypsum capacity by 200 million square metres.  It said the investment would be used to expand in existing markets and to enter new markets, including South Africa, Ukraine, Mexico, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.  
 
Lafarge reported a 50 per cent rise in operating income at its gypsum division in 2004, as well as a 9.5 per cent rise in the division’s return on capital employed.  
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