Lazar: “Spring should bring an upward curve in transport sector”

Ion Lazar, owner of International Lazar, a top five
transporter domestically, expects his group’s turnover to jump by
as much as 10% this year to 70-72m euros. In 2009, the group saw
its sales go down from around 85m euros a year before, to 65m
euros, as Hoedlmayer Lazar joint venture and Mecanpetrol company
has a smaller business volume. “In the case of Hoedlmayer Lazar
it’s simple: We had good orders from Dacia for exports, but trucks
came back empty at times because they did not have any vehicles to
bring back in the country. Mecanpetrol saw its orders from the
construction field go down,” said Ion Lazar. Car sales domestically
went down by 55% in 2009 to 130,000 units, which also eroded the
business of transporters engaged in supply operations. “Judging
from how operations started in the first three months, I believe
we’ll go beyond the 2009 result this year and we’re heading, at the
level of the entire group, toward 70-72m euros,” said Lazar. “An
upward trend should become visible starting spring as many vehicles
disappeared from the market”, Lazar added.