DuPont has a preference in factories
Valor Econômico
The American DuPont has a preference to supply automotive paint to three of the four new automobile factories coming into operation in the country between 2012 and 2013. According to the general manager of operations of DuPont Performance Coatings Brazil, Antonio Carlos de Oliveira, the company is the preferred supplier of the units of Hyundai in Piracicaba (SP), Toyota in Sorocaba (SP) and Honda in Sumaré (SP), which begin to operate between July next year and April 2013. "Globally, we are major suppliers for them. With this preference, we must expand our market share in Brazil", he says. Today, according to Oliveira, of each two cars produced in the country, one takes a DuPont paint.
In 2010, DuPont reported global sales of US$ 31.5 billion, of which US$ 3.8 billion related to the division of high-performance coatings, one of the six main business of the company. This value embeds expansion of 11% compared to 2009, highlighting the evolution of sales in Brazil and Latin America. Around here, Oliveira says, the growth rate was 22%. "The introduction of new products and gain of participation in the market contributed to this result", he explains. In Brazil, DuPont's total revenue in 2010 totaled US$ 1.9 billion and the paint area is among the three largest generators of revenue. "We are operating at full capacity and, in some areas, we adopted the operation seven days a week 24 hours a day", says Oliver, referring to the unit pace in Guarulhos (SP).
According to Oliveira, to cope with the growing demand for automotive paint and bring to the country a new technology, which ensures greater sustainability to the production process US$ 12 million will be invested in the factory throughout this year. Without detailing the volume of production, the executive exemplifies that the line of water-based paints will be doubled in the next three to five years. "Today we have 25% of that market, considering the supply to makers (OEM) and repainting."
Investment plans for the medium term take into account the change in the world map of auto industry and the increasing relevance that countries like China, Brazil and India have for the sector. According to the PwC study entitled "Trends for the Global Automotive Market", from this year, vehicle production in emerging countries will have surpassed that of developed countries. In Brazil, domestic demand for cars and light commercial vehicles will reach 5.3 million in 2015, with average growth of 8.4% per year. DuPont is attentive to the changing of habits of the Brazilian. Although muted colors still dominate the taste of those who buy a car in the country, says Oliver, there are indications that the palette is moving to diversify. "With most revolutionary colors, Fiat is opening a new market", he says. DuPont has about 250 colors in its portfolio.