Petrom budgeted 15.79 billion lei (about EUR3.6 billion) for this year, down from the RON16.56 billion (almost EUR3.8 billion) posted last year, while Dacia might overshoot the EUR3.6 billion mark both in 2011 and in 2012. Petrom’s revenue is calculated under the Romanian accounting standards, without taking into account its international operations, though.
The gap between Dacia’s and Petrom’s revenue narrowed to a little more than EUR600 million in 2010 from almost EUR1 billion in 2009. The biggest influence on Dacia’s revenue growth was the Duster SUV, which the company started manufacturing in the summer of 2010. The car’s average price is EUR15,000, double as much as the other models made in Mioveni (southern Romania).
Can Automobile Dacia leave Petrom behind this year? That is the question of the year in the local business circles, considering Petrom expects business to shrink in 2012, while Dacia expects an increase. The growth of the carmaker comes after a full year of Duster manufacturing in 2011. Then there is also the launch of the Sandero facelift this fall, which will be sold in Western Europe primarily. (EUR1=RON4.3711)
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)