Despite challenging economic conditions affecting various sectors, Donalam reports sales of over 155,000 tons of rebar and quality steel products over the first 9 months of 2023.
Operating in Calarasi and Targoviste, with a workforce reaching almost 1000 employees, Donalam’s market coverage is underscored by continuous investments dedicated to modernizing its facilities, aiming at bolstering Donalam’s local market standing and reinstating Romania as a major player in European steel production. One year after resuming rebar sales back in October 2022, Donalam achieved around 24% local rebars market share, being the sole producer of rebar in the Romanian market. Simultaneously, the special steel products, manufactured in both Calarasi and Targoviste, have solidified the company’s position in the European steel market.
“In 2023, we diligently pursued our investment agenda, allocating over 30 million euros to modernize our facilities in Târgoviște and Călărași. We aim to deliver high-quality products while actively participating in the circular economy dynamics. Our ambition is to be the sector’s reference producer locally, not just in terms of quality but also in responsible production and decarbonization. Despite tough and unfair competition from external suppliers in a volatile business context, our distinct quality in both finished products and services is gaining recognition in the market”, stated Carlo Beltrame, Group Business Development Manager, and CEO for France and Romania.
Donalam’s plant in Targoviste restarted rebar production in June 2022, following the acquisition of the former COS Targoviste. Presently, the Târgoviște plant boasts a rebar production capacity of approximately 15,000 tons/month. The objective is to increase the production capacity to about 58,000 tons/month, equivalent to over 600,000 tons/year, enabling Donalam to meet almost half of Romania’s domestic rebar needs for construction projects.
“Despite the challenging market conditions, our company’s foothold in the local market has been strengthened by the sales of rebar produced in Târgoviște during the first 9 months of the year. These results underscore that local production isn’t merely a trend but a necessity, vital for reducing the country’s reliance on imports and ensuring long-term sustainable economic growth amidst global uncertainties,” stated Dan Cheroiu, Sales Director at Donalam.
Before resuming rebar production in Targoviste, Romania depended solely on imports to fulfill the domestic market demand, primarily from countries like Egypt, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Donalam aims to change this landscape and reduce the country’s dependence on imports, by offering high-quality, locally sourced rebar, that integrates sustainability elements and fully caters to Romania’s specific seismic risks.
The Romanian subsidiary of AFV Beltrame Group, Donalam SRL, has two production facilities: the one in Călărași, with over 15 years of activity in the production of hot rolled steel bars and, starting February 2022, the plant in Târgoviște – where, in June 2022, the production of rebar was resumed. The company plans to make significant investments in the immediate future, in addition to modernizing and upgrading existing structures, with plans to build a new production unit, the only one of its kind in the world, which will fall below the emission limits of 50 kg CO2 / to of product.
Founded in 1896, AFV Beltrame Group is today one of the largest producers of steel bars and special steels in Europe. The Group has seven plants in Italy, France, Switzerland and Romania, with a total of over 3,000 employees, over 2 million tons of steel sold annually and commercial activities in over 40 countries. In November 2022, AFV Beltrame Group launched Chalibria, its certified carbon-neutral steel, aligning with the Green Deal directives. The group remains committed to climate neutrality, aiming for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2015 levels, reflecting their dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility.