Ppg 3Rd Quarter Sales And New Mexican Plant

PPG Industries' glass segment performed well in the third quarter of 2000 with an 8% sales increase over the same period in 1999. Sales and operating earnings growth was led by automotive replacement glass and glass fibre products. Third quarter 2000 sales in PPG's coatings segment were up 5% from the third 1999 quarter, and operating earnings increased 15%. The largest volume gains were in automotive original and industrial coatings. Chemicals segment sales increased 7% from the previous year, largely on substantially stronger chlor-alkali pricing. Operating earnings declined slightly as natural gas costs more than offset improved prices.