Saint-Gobain stock advances as Aviles furnace project gets permit

Saint-Gobain received the final construction permit for its FurHya hybrid flat-glass furnace in Aviles on Thursday, November 12, according to La Nueva Espana. The approval clears the way for construction at the La Maruca plant, where the existing furnace is expected to stop production on Monday, November 16.

Saint-Gobain stock traded at 75.30 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 11:02 CET on Friday, November 13. The quote reflects the share's intraday trading level while investors assess the next execution phase for the Spanish investment.

Permit clears the next industrial step

The FurHya project involves an investment of EUR 100 million, with European funding covering 60% of the cost, La Nueva Espana reported. Saint-Gobain is developing the highly electrified hybrid furnace with AGC Glass Europe. The installation is designed for flat-glass production and is expected to enter service in the second half of 2027.

The project replaces the existing furnace after a controlled shutdown and dismantling phase. The old unit is scheduled to be emptied on Sunday, November 15, allowing recyclable glass material to be recovered before cooling and removal. The preparatory work is expected to continue until Christmas, after which construction of the replacement furnace can proceed.

Lower-carbon production remains central

The hybrid design combines electricity and gas and is intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the production process. The investment also supports Saint-Gobain's strategy of expanding higher-value glass products, including laminated and coated products, rather than relying only on mass volumes.

La Nueva Espana reported that the plant's future production will be shaped by quality, service and margins. The company has also told employee representatives that it will intensify commercial work during the shutdown and temporarily supply customers from other European plants with its lower-carbon Orae range.

Execution risk moves into focus

For investors, the permit turns a long-prepared industrial plan into a defined construction program. The main near-term milestones are the November furnace shutdown, the dismantling period and the transition toward a planned start-up in the second half of 2027. The schedule matters because the Aviles plant is being positioned for longer-term continuity and more specialized output.

The project also comes against competitive pressure from low-priced Chinese glass imports, which company representatives have described as a major challenge for local pricing. That backdrop raises the importance of the new furnace's expected efficiency and product mix, but the permit itself does not remove construction or market risks.

European construction and industrial stocks remain sensitive to energy costs, manufacturing demand and regional pricing pressure; investors can follow the broader CAC 40 market for context.

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