Pavement systems covered 65% of the total volume, ferroconcrete prefab systems weighed 19%, with the rest being accounted for by tensioned concrete prefabs.
“In 2014, the market will grow by 10% on the year amid renewed infrastructure investments and continued industry and retail investments. Moreover, housing constructions stabilized in 2013, and 2014 will see significant growth on the collective building segment,” say InterBiz representatives.
According to the research company’s data, the segment of infrastructure prefabs boasts the biggest growth potential on this market until 2020.
What’s left behind
“Amid the uneven progress of infrastructure projects, the significantly delayed awarding of the new auctioned highway sections, the flawed use of public funds and the low investment in electrical networks, we estimate the market declined by over 20% in 2013 against 2012,” states Marius Dumitru Marin, chief executive officer of Macon group.
At the same time, producers are still coping with the risk of delayed arrear payment, economic and political instability and the rising raw material, utility and fuel costs.
In his turn, Gabriel Colobatiu, general manager of Somaco Group Prefabricate, stated the prefab market contracted in 2013 on the year and several major names on the construction market were hurt and some companies even went insolvent.
“Foreign direct investments were on an ongoing decline, investments in retail and logistics centers, though announced, were delayed. Only a few companies in this field are expanding further and Somaco participated in the building of new spaces. Housing projects were still modest, and so were investments in new production units,” said the representative of the company controlled by Swedish investment firm Oresa Ventures.
“Electrical infrastructure projects plunged from 2012 and wind farm expansion projects shrank after the government decided to cancel some incentives for green energy investors,” he added.
Thus, the main factors that helped the prefab market were private investments, particularly those in the logistics-retail field, as well as the dynamics of the water-sewage projects.
Ways to grow in 2014
Macon official shows the group in 2013 added new road infrastructure elements to its product range and was licensed as a supplier of concrete and ferroconcrete prefabs for the structural frames destined to rail infrastructure.
Moreover, Macon expanded its services on the civil and industrial construction segment.
2014 started with interesting projects and is due to be “full of challenges and satisfactions,” stated the representative of Somaco Grup Prefabricate in his turn.
Somaco Grup Prefabricate’s revenue stalled in 2013 against 2012 and for 2014 the company plans a 10% increase.
“Tight competition, economic and political instability, the inefficient use of public funds, the economic moves related to the liberalization of the price of domestically produced natural gas, the additional 1.5% tax on special constructions, the additional excise duty tax of 7 eurocents/liter, the increase of all royalties by 25%, as well as risk related to the late payment of arrears will still be the main challenges for companies in this field this year as well,” says Marius Dumitru Marin.
He also shows the first quarter of this year brought an increase at the level of projects against the same period of last year, while Macon’s prefab sales rose by at least 10% against 1Q, 2013.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)