Saudi industries eye European expansion
Posted by Saudi Gazette
Wednesday, 13 January 2010


JEDDAH - Saudi manufacturers intend to increase their exports to Europe amid growing demand for high quality Saudi products across the European Union (EU) market.

The trend would help maintain the Kingdom’s status as one of EU’s top 15 international trading partners.

In particular, the Kingdom is monitoring Europe’s construction industry, the region’s biggest sectoral employer and one of its major sources of gross capital.

Eu’s construction sector is forecast to achieve market stability this year and open up various opportunities in related-businesses such as flooring and carpeting.

As this developed, Al-Sorayai Trading and Industrial Group, one of the largest floor coverings manufacturer in the world and one of Saudi Arabia’s top 100 companies, plans to leverage its high production capacities of 85 million square meters a year to respond to the increasing global demand.

The floor coverings manufacturer will take part in Domotex Hannover in Germany, the world’s leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings, aiming to increase its European exports in 2010 in response to the region’s strong demand for its high-quality carpets. The exhibition is being held from Jan.16- 19, 2010.

Prior to the full worldwide impact of the economic crisis towards late 2008, the global market value of the flooring and carpets trade was set to climb by 2.5 percent annually and reach $150 billion by 2012.

Positive 2010 forecasts such as the UN World Tourism Organization’s prediction of a 1 to 3 percent growth in international tourism and the McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook 2010 Report’s expectation of increased construction activity are expected to boost demand for flooring materials and coverings. Europe is a particularly profitable target market due to the huge volume of its planned and ongoing construction activities.

“Europe has been a lucrative market for us, even amidst the downturn. We intend to further expand our presence in the region, specifically by interacting with current and potential customers through high-profile industry events. During the past years we have been attending Domotex Hannover to get a pulse of the international floorings trade. This year is of great significance because there are high expectations for at least moderate recovery across sectors that are linked to our line of business. We are highly prepared to meet demand should a strong market upswing occur,” said Saleh Nasser Al-Sorayai, managing director, Al-Sorayai Trading and Industrial Group.

Al-Sorayai, the first carpet manufacturing company in the Middle East to obtain ISO 9001-2000 certification, occupies an area of almost 90,000 sq m dedicated solely to manufacturing activities. The company’s Jeddah Industrial Yarn Factory produces its own polypropylene and nylon yarn, the main raw materials for carpet making. Al-Sorayai has grown almost 20 times in production capacity over the past years due to annual production expansions and currently exports its products to 65 countries around the world.

Domotex will feature the products and services of 1,400 exhibitors from around 60 countries in 13 halls. The four-day trade fair will feature “contractworld,” Europe’s biggest forum for architects and interior designers. Al-Sorayai will take advantage of the forum, which will also act as an exhibition, a congress and architect’s award platform, to explore European business prospects and further promote its portfolio to the region. Europe currently counts among US, Australia, China and other Middle Eastern countries as Al-Sorayai’s main markets. - SG


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