Symmetrica: 7 per cent business increase on a stagnant market

Symmetrica, the local leader on the paving bricks and vibropressed curbs market and the largest local producer, reported a 7 per cent increase in business in 2013 both in value and volume, while the market stagnated at the level of 2012.

2014-03-07 12:02:47

"Although the market remained at the same level, in 2013 we managed to record an increase in business both in value and in volume, reaching a turnover of 68.1 million lei (15.4 million euro), compared to 63.3 million lei (over EUR 14 million) last year," said Sebastian Bobu, executive director of Symmetrica.

The company representative pointed out that last year the company also recorded a slight increase in market share, to 24 per cent, from 22 per cent in 2012. According to Sebastian Bobu, Symmetrica progress was primarily supported by the production increase due to the inauguration of two new factories in 2012, in Brasov and Bistrita counties, in 2013 the company reaching a production capacity of 11,500 m of products daily, the largest on the Romanian market. Furthermore, the high geographical coverage of the company offered the opportunity of fast delivery at competitive prices in Moldova, Muntenia, Dobrogea, and Transylvania, Symmetrica covering over 80 per cent of the country territory.

Also, other factors that contributed to Symmetrica business development in 2013 include the growth of the sales team, and also the portfolio diversification by launching new product . Regarding the mix of products sold in 2013, Symmetrica registered a growth on the segment of curbs and gullies, which have a larger percentage of total sales compared to previous years.
According to the Symmetrica representative, the political instability, the lack of major infrastructure projects and the lack of ability to attract European funds are among the main causes that led to the market′s stagnation in 2013.

Thus, the market for paving bricks, curbs and gullies in Romania reached in 2013 approximately the same level as in the previous year, with a volume of about 12 million meters and a value of approximately 66 million euro."Although, on the market level, the sales in 2013 were supported by public projects for the rehabilitation of pavements, squares and pedestrian areas, the lack of bigger investments in infrastructure led to stagnation at the same level as in 2012. Thus, the main measure that the authorities should take into account in order to boost both the pavements market and the whole construction market would be the allocation of more generous funding for major infrastructure projects", said the company representative.

Regarding the market′s evolution this year, Sebastian Bobu estimates that the volume of products delivered will stay the same as in the last two years, and that 2014 can also bring a stagnation in prices for paving bricks and curbs, after in 2013 there was a slight increase in this
Symmetrica plans for this year primarily aim to maintain the market share at least at the current level, but also to improve the production capacity in order to increase the territorial. "In a still uncertain market it is very difficult to make estimations about the evolution of this year business. Basically, in 2014 we plan to achieve a turnover similar to last year, while keeping the current level of development represents a positive achievement in a difficult economic environment", added Sebastian Bobu.

Additionally, in 2014 Symmetrica relies on a large number of projects after in 2013 besides the activities from Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, Suceava, Bacau, Sibiu and Ploiesti, the company has delivered more than 30,000 meters of products for an external project that was completed in Ungheni, Moldova.

Founded in 1994, Symmetrica is a 100 per cent Romanian company, which is producing vibropressed paving bricks, curbs and gullies for pedestrian and roadways, in a variety of shapes and colors. The first Symmetrica factory was opened in 1999 in Vere?ti, Suceava, followed by production units in Podu Iloaiei, Iasi (2010), and Bolintin Vale, near Bucharest (2011). In 2012, the company opened two new production facilities in Brasov and Bistrita.

The main projects for which Symmetrica delivered paving bricks and curbs include National Arena, The Balnear Resort Spa from Vatra Dornei, Carrefour, Lidl, Penny Market, green paving parkings in Bucharest etc. Also, the company′s products were used for the rehabilitation of streets, sidewalks and green parks across the country.