Cheap imports and competition force Opoczno tile firm to look abroad for markets

The company is considering financing new investments through an IPO. "We are currently considering entering the German, Ukrainian and Russian markets, as well as those countries situated by the Baltic Sea. We have not decided yet whether we will build a production plant or buy one," said company spokesperson Monika Chmielewska. "Analysts and the management are still not sure about the date when the IPO would be most profitable, they are also projecting our IPO income," she added. Opoczno is currently conducting an investment in new production lines in its Mazowsze factory. The zł.70 million project will allow the factory to increase its production capacity. Entering foreign markets is a common strategy in this sector as Poland's tile market is becoming more and more competitive, mainly due to cheaper Chinese products. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) D.W.