Siemens grows 10% and estimates doubling income by 2015
Valor Econômico
Largest conglomerate of electrical and electronic engineering of the country, Siemens do Brasil aims at doubling its internal earnings by 2015. The strategy is to align to the growth needs of the country in the coming years. And that shall mean jumping to the level of R$ 8.5 billion (US$ 5 billion). Following such a plan, the company closed the tax year ending September 30 with net domestic earnings of R$ 4.2 billion (US$ 2.47 billion), which represents growth of 10% compared to 2009. That value was distributed among the areas of Industry (40%), Energy (45%) and Health (15%), driven by several acquisitions in the segment of diagnostics in the country. Considering the exports, the amount reaches R$ 5.4 billion (US$ 3.18 billion).
For 2011, the company invests in wind energy, segment that will receive the lion's share of the investments in the year, estimated at R$ 150 million (US$ 88.2 million). The company sees promising conditions to increase its participation in an area of business that has growth forecast from 3% to 9% in the energy matrix of the country. The investments include the setting up of its first plant of aerogenerators in the country, with investments of nearly R$ 20 million (US$ 11.8 million).
Another key sector for investments is the segment of oil and gas, in line with the growing demand for equipment with the oil exploration of the pre-salt layer. According to the President of the company in Brazil, Adilson Primo, the products made by Siemens are present in two thirds of all Brazilian offshore rigs designed in the past eight years. Besides, the Executive mentioned the four refineries of Petrobras under project and in phase of implementation in the country. The company also plans to open a manufacturing unit for low-voltage motors, aimed at the oil and gas segment. In a second moment, the unit will also produce medium-voltage equipment.
But it is in the main bottlenecks of the country - which become more evident as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics approach - that the company sees its main opportunities to grow in the next five years. "Infrastructure is the greatest 'gap' in the country, but for us it is a great opportunity", said Primo, during the presentation, yesterday, of the results of the Brazilian subsidiary in FY 2010, ended September 30. "Of all the investments in an event like the FIFA World Cup, only 10% go to stadiums. The other 90% go to urban infrastructure. That is the area we are interested in", he revealed. Starting by the issue of transportation, which is called "mobility" by Siemens.
The Executive reiterated the company is studying -, and it is interested in taking part in the bidding - of the bullet train project, a work of R$ 34 billion (US$ 20 billion) that will connect Campinas, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In the case of the hotel system, which will be overloaded in the cities that will receive the events, Siemens will also have an eye on the opportunities in the area of building automation, to operate in the safety of the energy supply, for instance.
In FY 2010, the subsidiary of the German multinational had the best performance among the BRICs -group of emerging countries formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China. The country was responsible for a 33% growth in international currency (Euro), overcoming the 17% of India and 12% of China. In order received, which increased from R$ 4 million (US$ 2.03 million) last year to R$ 4.9 million (US$ 2.9 million) in 2010 (until September 30), the company had, in euro, growth of 48%. Primo recalled that, worldwide, Siemens has registered the best year in its history. The Brazilian subsidiary has 13 plants and six research and development centers, employing 10,170 people.