Electrolux expects robust sales in 2001

Electrolux expects robust sales in 2001

JAKARTA (JP): PT Electrolux Indonesia, wholly owned by
Sweden's Electrolux Group, expects robust sales of its household
appliances this year despite the country's political and economic
uncertainties, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

Electrolux Indonesia president Johannes Budiman said the
Indonesian electronics market remained promising despite fears of
further worsening of the country's economy.

Johannes said the company's sales from January to May this
year had shown an increase of 50 percent compared to the same
period last year.

With such a robust growth in sales, Electrolux is poised to
raise its share in the country's household appliances market to
35 percent this year from 31 percent last year.

Electrolux sells home appliances including washing machines,
refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens.

Johannes however declined to provide details.

"We're optimistic because the market will grow this year," he
said.

Traders predicted demand for washing machines would rise to
340,000 this year, from 250,000 the previous year, while demand
for refrigerators would increase to 1.2 million this year from
900,000 in 2000.

Johannes said the company's sales continued to increase
despite the 20 percent increase in the price of its products
recently.

"Our market segment is quite stable as it comes from the
middle to upper income brackets which are not much affected by
the country's crisis," he said.

Johannes said the company planned to open three new showrooms
in Pekanbaru, Medan and Ujungpandang by the middle of next year
to boost its market size.

Electrolux currently has five showrooms in Jakarta, Bandung,
Surabaya and Semarang.(03)