Brazil’s Volvo has exported about 280 trucks to Saudi Arabia between January and July. According to information by the company’s press advisory, throughout the year, shipments to the Arab country will reach 480 units. The total value of the contracts is of about US$ 25 million.
According to the company, the units exported until now are of the FH12 and FM12 models, both indicated for the transportation of heavy cargo. The majority of vehicles shipped was in CKD kits (completely knocked down), in other words, dismantled to be assembled in the destination country.
The importer is Zahid Tractor Heavy Machinery Co., representative of the Volvo brand in Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah, main economic center in the country. Last year, the same company had already bought 72 trucks from the Brazilian Volvo.
Profile
In Brazil, Volvo is based in Curitiba, capital city of the Brazilian southern state of Paraná, and manufactures buses, trucks and machinery for civil construction. In 2004, the company had revenues of US$ 1.096 billion, with an increase of 51% in comparison to the previous year.
Exports participated with US$ 382.5 million, or 80% more than in 2003. In the internal market the company sold 6,654 trucks, an increase in 35% in relation to 2003 and the best mark since the company was installed in Brazil, in 1977.
In the buses segment, Volvo in Brazil sold 804 units in 2004, against 596 in the previous year. The majority, or 629 buses, was sold to the foreign market. The company employs 2,500 people in the country.
Anba – www.anba.com.br