Management of Joint Stock Company Liepājas Metalurgs sees an opportunity to widen the export of reinforcement bars to Azerbaijan, informs the representative of Liepājas Metalurgs Simona Laiveniece.

Last week Chairman of the Council of Liepajas Metalurgs Sergei Zaharjin travelled to Azerbaijan as a member of the official Latvian delegation. During the visit he met Kamaladdin Heydarov, Minister of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, and Ziya Mammadov, Transport Minister of Azerbaijan.

In the result of negotiations S.Zaharjin sees an opportunity to develop the existing cooperation with Azerbaijan. "The Transport Minister confirmed his interest in receiving our rebars. Until now we exported little to Azerbaijan. They have their own metal processing plant, though it cannot provide the end-users with all kinds of rebars, which in its turn may be performed by Liepājas Metalurgs. We do not want to capture the share of market, occupied by the domestic producer. However, we are in a position to provide what they lack. The construction industry is highly developed, new roads and subway have been built in Azerbaijan, therefore we have common interests", states S.Zaharjin.

At the moment 0,05% of the total output produced by Liepajas Metalurgs have been exported to Azerbaijan. However, provided that all the intentions would materialize, these tonnages would significantly increase, said Laiveniece. First shipments of reinforcement bars could leave to Azerbaijan next year.  

Currently the biggest export markets of Liepājas Metalurgs include Algeria (33,95%) and Poland (33,88%). Approximately 10% of the total output stay in the Baltic states. The end-users of products of Liepājas Metalurgs include also such exotic countries as  Nigeria  (0,51%), Peru (3,45%), Senegal (0,45%).

The regular buyers of products of Liepajas Metalurgs are Germany, Denmark, UK, Russia, Byelorussia, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland a.o.: totally 26 countries.  

In 11 months of this year the company has exported more than 721 000 metric tons or reinforcement bars, 342 000 tons shipped by sea and 374 000 tons by motor- and railway.

         Līga Šenfelde
         Assistant of chief Economist
         63455926, shenfelde@metalurgs.lv