Brazil Ceramic Producers to Register Record Export
Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 12---The Brazilian ceramic tiles industry will register record exports this year. The sector that had its best performance in 2003 with exports of US$250mil shall close 2004 with US$330mil in external sales.
Until September, according to Anfacer, the total exported hit US$251mil. Companies such as Eliane, Portobello, Piso Forte, Cecrisa and Ceusa are boosting sales overseas and some prepare to expand over the next months aiming to meet the increasing foreign demand. Piso Forte, for instance, expects to conclude its new plant in Santa Catarina by the end of 2005.
The current production of 540,000 m2 will double with the new unit that will add other 600,000 m2. The new plant demands investments of US$8mil. Eliane, one of the largest in the sector predicts a new record in exports, to US$68mil from US$56mil in 2003. Portobello that began, in 2004, exporting to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan forecasts exports of US$50mil in 2004, against US$37mil in 2003.
