“I do not believe that the second half of 2009 can be worse than the first. Our profit plunged 17 times because we cut production significantly, considering our clients reduced their consumption. The second half will certainly be better, because we have clients that took some time off for a few months, and now, since two-three weeks, returned on the market,” said the producer’s General Manager, Constantin Balasoiu.

However, the company posted a slight increase in net sales in the first six months of this year, of one percent, to RON 516 million (€122 mln), from RON 510 mln (€139 mln) registered in H1 2008. “The net sales rose because we had a different client structure in the first six months compared to last year and because we had higher revenues from system services,” the businessman added.

However, he said that he was convinced the enterprise will continue to be market leader on the trading segment, and so initiated talks with several potential clients. “We are now negotiating with a series of interested companies,” Balasoiu said, without providing any further information.