The group’s sales in Romania rose slightly to RON1.185 billion (EUR268.3 million) last year, from RON1.169 billion in 2012.
In 2013, Agrana Romania posted loss of nearly RON104.2 million, while its branches in Buzau and Tandarei reported net profit of RON1.4 million and RON3.1 million, respectively.
The group’s revenues fell 20% to RON1.125 billion (EUR254.7 million) in 2013, from RON1.4 billion in 2012, and its expenses shrank 12%, to RON1.226 billion (EUR277.5 million) in 2013, from RON1.397 billion a year before.
Austria’s sugar processor Agrana Zucker owns 91.81% of Agrana Romania and the Romanian privatization authority AAAS holds a 4.05% stake.
In February this year, Agrana Zucker announced it will buy Romanian sugar producer Lemarco’s sugar refining plants in Urziceni (Ialomita county) and Liesti (Galati county).
Agrana is already present on the Romanian market through two sugar refineries in Buzau and Roman and markets sugar products under the brands Margaritar and Coronita.
Agrana Zucker is the largest sugar producer in Central and Eastern Europe. The company also supplies starch-based products, fruit preparations for the dairy industry and fruit juice concentrates.
The Austrian group has an annual turnover of around EUR3 billion, with 55 plants and 8,500 employees in 26 countries.
On the Bucharest stock market Wednesday, Agrana Romania rose 7.59% at RON0.85 a share. (EUR1=RON4.4762)