(Mexico) Glass Division Forsees Big Sales

Monterrey-based Vitro Envases projects export sales in 1998 worth $200m, 21% more than last year's $165m. Of the company's glass products, 30% are sold in foreigh markets, and 65% of that in the US. In Mexico, Vitro Envases supplies the beer industry, which uses glass bottles for 80% of packaging, as well as the liquor, wine and soft drinks industries. Alfonso Gomez, head of the Vitro subsidiary, said that Grupo Vitro is investing $50m in the packaging division this year to buy new machinery and boost production.