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It was a record-breaking financial year for Duferdofin on
top of the already highly satisfactory results for 2006,
with the best results since 1996, the year the company was
founded. The beams sector, with an output of more than
450’000 tons and deliveries around 440’000 tons, has also
achieved an exceptional increase, even in comparison with
the more than substantial volumes of the previous year.
The very positive market situation was reflected in a
constant growth of demand and prices for the first half of
the year, followed by a stabilisation in the third quarter
and a levelling off of prices in the last quarter of the
financial year, which closed on September 30.
The situation in the first three months of the current
financial year is substantially aligned with the last
quarter of 2006/2007.
The demand for beams remains very strong at the world level
and more than satisfactory at the European level.
The Italian market is showing clear signs of stabilisation,
which reasonably allow us to expect a recovery of demand in
the first few months of 2008.
This is also due to the conclusion of a process of strong
reduction of stocks by national customers.
The Giammoro plant has systematically continued the
implementation of its investment plan, with the
commissioning of the new furnace for the beams rolling mill
and the continuation of work on the new rolling mill for
rolled commercial steel and rebar for reinforced concrete.
It is also continuing the implementation of an important
cycle of upgrading and improvement in the plant and
structures of its production unit, which is a reflection of
its conscientious and decisive attention to environmental
issues.
The sales organisation of the beams sector has been upgraded
and strengthened in both its internal structures and its
external sales network, with the aim of satisfying the new
requirements in terms of optimal market coverage. Duferco
Italia’s beams sector, also thanks to the acquisition of TPP,
is today the absolute leader on the Italian market and one
of the main actors on the European market.
The Italian distribution system for long products, with its
two operating units, Acofer and Sidervaldarno, has also
taken effective advantage of all the opportunities offered
by the optimal market situation, concluding a financial year
characterised by excellent operating results and the
continuation of the planned process of development of its
presence in the
sector and improvement of the service offered to its
clientele.
The mechanical division of San Giovanni Valdarno concluded
last year an important process of upgrading and expansion of
its organisational structures and plant, while the
development of important supply agreements with customers
who are world leaders in the sector continues.
All sectors and divisions of Duferdofin have reached a level
in their organisations and plants that enable them to take
full advantage of all the opportunities offered in
particularly positive years,such as that just concluded, but
also, and above all, to face and cope effectively with the
uncertainties of future years characterised by volatile
market situations.
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