CORPORATE NEWS:
Export success receives royal recognition for Outokumpu in the UK
ASR Rod Mill, part of Outokumpu Stainless Ltd in the UK, has been granted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The business has shown a significant increase in overall sales, fuelled by a growth in exports, despite tough trading conditions and with a small sales team.
“The UK market for our products is small and shrinking – in fact, our annual production would now represent more than four times the total UK market’s consumption. We are reliant on export sales for our success, and appreciate the confidence our customers at home and abroad continue to show in us,” explained John Duffy, ASR’s Commercial Manager.
The ASR Rod Mill manufactures stainless steel rod coil which is used to produce wire, drawn bar and fasteners, which in turn are engineered into products such as needles and pins, springs and welding consumables.
During the two years from September 2002, home sales volume fell over 10%, while ASR’s total sales volume grew by more than 15%, thanks to growth in export sales in excess of 20%. Export sales now represent some 85% of all its business. This is particularly significant as ASR did not start any export trade until the
early 1990s.
The most sizeable markets for the business’s products are Europe and North America. Growth in those markets is a real achievement, secured against a background of fierce competition from strong domestic producers, overcapacity and low-cost Asian imports. ASR believes it has succeeded in these difficult circumstances by offering a wide product range, demonstrating flexible service and showing responsiveness to customers.
New markets for the company’s products have also been found and include Latvia, Mexico, South Korea, India and Japan. A grant from South Yorkshire International Trade has been used to fund valuable background research in the Asia Pacific markets, which represent the next targets in ASR’s sales development.
Company: |
Outokumpu Stainless, ASR Rod Mill |
Country: |
UK |
Fax: |
+44 114 2 42 21 52 |
Email: |
|
Website: |
www.outokumpu.com/asr |