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)