Lazar transporter sees business pick up in Q2

International Lazar Company, one of the top five road transport companies on the Romanian market, controlled by Pitesti-based businessman Ion Lazar is resuming business growth in the second quarter of the year, after in January and February it was 30% below budget. Lazar, 48, says the first four months of the year brought smaller orders across the entire client portfolio, down 14% against last year. In the January-April period, the transport business reached 9.2 million euros. “This is a global percentage, the overall decline in the first four months amounted to 14%. January and February were weak months, we achieved 65-70% of our budget. However, we surpassed our target in April, and are close to it in May.” The company, which operates an around 350-truck fleet, saw its business pick up in April because of the rise in orders in the automotive industry, where most of its clients come from. One of its leading clients is Dacia, which starting in March boosted its daily production from 1,085 to 1,200 cars, while its exports doubled. “We have the burden of the poor performance in January and February weighing on us, if we don’t record 38 million euros in turnover, like we did last year, we will see at least 32 million euros, maybe even 36 million euros,” Lazar said.