Ceramica SA Iasi, the leader of brick industry in the Moldavian area, with annual turnover of 64 million RON, has maintained its market share last year, despite a 10% decrease in quantity of sales in comparison with 2011. For 2013, the top-management of the company will adopt the same attitude in what concerns financial results, the future development of the business being dependent on a large extent to the evolution of the local masonry market. At the local level, Ceramica has a production unit in Iasi, with an annual capacity of 400,000 cubic meters. The company was founded in 1994. In June 2007 the investment fund Advent bought 66% of the company’s stakes, following an investment of 22.3 million EUR. Advent increased afterwards to 84.9% its equity stake at Ceramica SA. According to the company's data, the results of 2012 were influenced subsequently by the decrease of the construction materials market, which has experienced a contraction of 10% in comparison with the results of 2011, but also by the increase of competition in the West region of the country. In spite of the downward trend of the market, the company has maintained, however, its market share, despite a 10% decrease in sales quantity. "Due to the advertising of a wide range of products and the focus on launching new materials with high added value (such as the basket ventilation, the facade ceramic blocks and the full brick with model), the turnover decreased by only 7% from the level recorded in 2011. It is still premature to develop forecasts on the amount of sales because everything depends on what will happen on the market. Of course we want an increase in deliveries and we believe that we can progress despite the difficult conditions in the field, through perseverance, the permanent adaptation to consumer requirements and the offering of quality products and services", said Iulian Mangalagiu, the company’s CEO. According to his opinion, the local brick market had an unexpected evolution in 2012. After the first semester the representatives from across the industry of construction materials estimated that last year would consist in a period of stagnation. For further information and a detailed analysis of the current Agenda Constructiilor issue click here!