21 Per Cent Sales Growth at Bekaert

Last year Bekaert achieved a 21 per cent consolidated sales growth. The total now stands at 2.2 billion euros of which 1.5 billion euros were generated in the “Advanced Wire Products“ business segment. Above average growth mainly took place in developing markets such as Latin America and Asia where the Belgian steel cord supplier managed to achieve a turnover of plus 32 and plus 49 per cent, respectively. Bekaert explains that these positive developments were the result of “organic growth” in 2004, but also acquisitions like the one in Slovakia. The company’s 2004 results will be published in March.