Romanian roof producer increases sales by a third

Romanian metallic roof producer BILKA increased its sales by 34% year-on-year in the first nine months of this year, to EUR 22.6 million. The company produced and sold more than 3 million sqm of roof metallic tiles, almost the same amount it recorded for the whole year in 2013, according to BILKA. “The 34% increase in the first five months of this year confirms our expectations that a higher number of roofs that need immediate replacement. Even if no new construction work or large projects were started, in our sector there is demand which comes largely from renovations, which makes more than half of the orders we get,” said Horatiu Tepes, owner of BILKA. Last year, the total roof market was at 27 million sqm, of which 62% was covered by metallic tiles. For this year, BILKA estimates a 5% growth for the market. With an estimated production of 4 million sqm of metallic tiles, BILKA could reach a market share of about 14% this year. The company’s main competitors are Swedish group Lindab, Finish Ruukki and Belgian Coilprofil. BILKA has invested EUR 2.5 million this year to buy and renovate the Romlag Brasov industrial platform and to buy new production lines. This is part of a EUR 5 million investment plan that the company will finish in 2016. Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com