Rombat's business down 17%

Rombat Bistrita, the leading battery manufacturer on the Romanian market, exported batteries worth 14 million euros (60 million RON) in the first half of the year, with the total value of sales amounting to 22.4 million euros (95 million RON). The company’s turnover was down by around 17% against the first half of last year, from sales worth 27 million euros (99 million RON), due to the reduction in the price of raw material and implicitly in the sales price of finished products. According to company representatives, the price of lead fell from 2,602 dollars/tonne in the period between January and June 2008, to 1,327 dollars/tonne at present. The company saw a 37% rise in terms of number of units sold, to over 880,000 units. “This year we are expecting a 12% rise in terms of number of units sold, but the company’s turnover could remain the same as the one recorded last year,” said Ioan Repede, Rombat’s general manager.