The Austria-based Lasselsberger, the largest manufacturer of wall and floor tiles in Romania, said it would be looking at new overseas markets for exports, such as Serbia, Moldova, Iran, Iraq and South Africa, after steering its 2009 production output to only Bulgaria and Greece.
Lasselsberger Romania, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Austrian group, expects its export operations to fetch around €2 million in sales this year, the equivalent of nearly 5% of the turnover planned for 2010. And the Bulgarian market should account for 50% of its export business.
On a medium term, the tiles manufacturer plans to expand its reach into other countries in Western Europe, such as France and Germany.
“We’re in talks with our peers in the group as we’re considering tapping the export potential of western European countries,” said Christian Morath, chief executive of Lasselsberger Romania.
The company recorded €35 million revenues last year, down 15.2% from 2008, due to the decline in the construction industry. For 2010, the ceramics manufacturer expects 10% growth in revenues, to €38.5 million.
