Rigips: plasterboard market growth exceeds constructions growth

Plasterboard producer Rigips Romania estimates a minimum 20% turnover increase, to 170 million RON (52 million euros) for this year, compared with last year's 143.5 million RON (40 million euros). "The Romanian market of plasterboard panels is enjoying continuous growth and by far exceeds the increases of the constructions industry, with the plaster market also witnessing a similar growth rate. Although it is too early to make predictions for this year, we hope to maintain a minimum 20% growth rate until the end of 2007," said Constantin Hariton, general manager of Rigips Romania. In the first half of this year, the company posted a 40% sales increase against the same time last year. Plasterboard systems account for 80% of the company's total sales, while plaster products account for the remainder, specified Hariton. In the first half of this year, Rigips Romania managed to deliver 85% of its total orders from its own production, while imports accounted for 15%. Last year, the company also completed the construction of a plasterboard factory in Turda.