Gealan's PVC windows business up 11%

Gealan Romania, the local subsidiary of German PVC profiles producer Gealan, posted a 262 million-RON (71 million-euro) turnover last year, up 11% against the previous year, less than the around 20% expected growth rate, according to the company’s official results. The company has not provided data regarding the progression of the net profit or on first-quarter sales, which have yet to be audited. Gealan announced at the beginning of the year that it had posted a 5-10% increase, according to preliminary data, because of the sales decline in the last quarter of the year, after the increase had amounted to 25% in the first six months of the year. For 2009, company intends to preserve the 2008 level under the most optimistic scenario, amid an expected 40% decline for the PVC windows and doors market this year, to around 500 million euros.