O-I de Venezuela should post a turnover of almost USD 200 million for 2006, higher than 2005 as the firm heads towards 2010 with predicted sales rises of around 7% per annum. O-I de Venezuela meets 70…
O-I de Venezuela should post a turnover of almost USD 200 million for 2006, higher than 2005 as the firm heads towards 2010 with predicted sales rises of around 7% per annum. O-I de Venezuela meets 70% of domestic glass-packaging requirements and will produce a total of 2.4 billion bottles in 2006, up 50% in a decade. Venezuelans have shown loyalty to glass packaging over plastic. Recycling could reclaim 40% of glass consumed, according to Luis Gomez, vice-president of sales and marketing at O-I de Venezuela; at present, a campaign by the firm has helped raise recycling to a level of 100,000 metric tons of glass (around 26%). In 2006, O-I de Venezuela will also invest USD 35 million, much higher than its annual average of around USD 22.5 million, to modify certain aspects of its plant in Valera, Trujillo. Production has had to rise locally as in recent times bottles have had to be imported from neighbouring O-I subsidiaries such as Colombia, Brazil and even Ecuador to keep pace with local demand. In 2006, imports will make up 12% of O-I sales in Venezuela but the subsidiary aims to end it dependence on imports by 2008 and even return to exporting). O-I de Venezuela is looking at new packaging sectors such as flavoured water, energy drinks, premium tuna and vegetables as well as focusing on the three strategic markets of beer, food and beverages such as alco-pops, where it already provides the bottles for BreezeIce.