Vidrala, the Spanish glass container maker, has become the second biggest manufacturer in Spain & Portugal, following its acquisition of Portugal's Ricardo Gallo. The combined companies hold 19.5% of the Iberian container glass market, behind Saint-Gobain Vicasa. Shares in Vidrala have increase in value by 26.7% following the acquisition. Output has increased from 450,000/tpy to 610,000/tpy, a 36% increase, & the product mix has improved. The takeover has increased the group's output of bottles for juices, soft drinks, beers & liqueurs & also cooking oils. Spanish glass container output reached 2.1M tonnes in 2003, up 0.3%, but Vidrala's production fell by 2.1%, largely due to the rebuilding of the furnace at its Llodio factory. Sales volumes in Spain rose 4.3% & net sales excluding Gallo figures climbed by 8.52%. Group sales reached Euros 147M.
