Kober: Industry orders are picking up

Aurel Kober, owner of Kober paint producer of Piatra-Neamt, maintains that orders from manufacturers of metallic structures and equipment that export their products bounced back in the first half of the year, after they had plummeted in the same period of last year. Kober’s statement comes in the wake of data the National Statistics Institute published this week, which show that exports rose by 33% in April against the similar month of 2009. “It’s normal that the first segment showing signs of a rebound should be the one related to industry. This year, a pick-up in orders related to products used in industry can be felt, especially from firms with export operations. The rebound is not very strong, but it exists,” Kober told ZF. The company last year reached turnover worth 150.8m RON, down 5% year-on-year, though it had budgeted a 20% turnover drop at year start. The company last year managed to reduce its sales decline partly because of the finalisation of the first stage of a new varnish and paint plant in Savinesti in 2009.