Thus, the total profit of the top five construction material distributors in Romania (Arabesque Galati, Romstal, Praktiker, Dedeman, and Bricostore) plunged by some 23 percent last year compared to 2007, to nearly €64.4 million from €84.5 mln, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance.
The year 2008 – even though this was a good year for most companies in the field, that posted growth rates of as much as 34 percent year-on-year, as is the case of Dedeman –significantly changed the net profits of the largest companies in the local construction material distribution sector and the do-it-yourself networks.
Thus, the Arabesque Galati market leader, is the only company in the Top five that registered losses last year (worth €1.6 mln), after a profit exceeding €8.2 mln in 2007. The second significant drop belongs to the Romstal group, whose profit fell to €10.3 mln in 2008 from €26.9 mln in 2007.
Praktiker and Dedeman reported declines in profit of some 12 percent and four percent, respectively. The only Top 5 company whose profit rose significantly last year is Bricostore Romania, which registered a growth rate of some 33 percent, to approximately €26.6 mln.
