With prospects looking good in 2010, the glass industry is maintaining a good performance & expects to grow 10% in line with the rise in exports. Companies anticipate a 10% increase in demand, mainly from the wine business. During the first 4m of 2010, Argentinean exports increased 20%, (11% volume increase). Main desginations were the US, Canada, NL, UK & Brazil. Despite dropping to 5th place, Brazil showed the best performance: 53% increase in value, followed by Canada with 35% growth. "As a result of the crisis, there was a fall in demand in 2009. This year, however, we can see a rebound in orders & believe there will be a market increase of around 10%," stated Walter Formica, GM of Verallia (Saint-Gobain). Saint-Gobain has invested $60M in a new furnace due to increasing demand & according to Formica, the new furnace should be operational in 2012.
