Lazar: “Spring should bring an upward curve in transport sector”

Ion Lazar, owner of International Lazar, a top five transporter domestically, expects his group's turnover to jump by as much as 10% this year to 70-72m euros. In 2009, the group saw its sales go down from around 85m euros a year before, to 65m euros, as Hoedlmayer Lazar joint venture and Mecanpetrol company has a smaller business volume. "In the case of Hoedlmayer Lazar it's simple: We had good orders from Dacia for exports, but trucks came back empty at times because they did not have any vehicles to bring back in the country. Mecanpetrol saw its orders from the construction field go down," said Ion Lazar. Car sales domestically went down by 55% in 2009 to 130,000 units, which also eroded the business of transporters engaged in supply operations. "Judging from how operations started in the first three months, I believe we'll go beyond the 2009 result this year and we're heading, at the level of the entire group, toward 70-72m euros," said Lazar. "An upward trend should become visible starting spring as many vehicles disappeared from the market", Lazar added.