Over the last year, Chamtor has weathered the crisis, has accompanied Cristanol’s increasing output, and has developed ways of monitoring the seasonal nature of glucose demand.
2009 / 2010 enabled Chamtor to recover practically all the volume lost during the crisis, with 380,000 tonnes of wheat processed, compared to 365,000 in 2008 / 2009. The relative decrease in turnover, down to €115 million from €136 million, reflects the lower raw materials prices. The good financial results are a result of control over fixed costs and the implementation of a system of contractualisation that is suited to a period of volatile prices.
A market that is picking up
The activity’s recovery reflects the relative recovery of the market, with the first green shoots appearing, in the paper and cardboard sector in particular. As for glucose demand (drinks, ice cream, jam, sweets, etc.), it has recovered the few percentage points that had been lost. The market for proteins for the human or animal feed markets, which represented 25 to 30% of Chamtor's turnover, is holding up well: Chamtor is one of the world’s four biggest suppliers of milk replacement for calves, and exports a high percentage of its protein production outside of Europe (to America and Asia, notably).
Giving oneself the resources to follow fluctuations in demand
The results of the 2009 / 2010 year also show the results of the Chamtor’s customer-focused strategy, with three million euros invested in dealing with seasonal fluctuations in glucose demand: For three or four months a year demand can reach up to 200 lorries of 25 tonnes per week. Totally operational since the spring of 2010, the new installations for mixing, finishing and dispatching glucose syrup have increased Chamtor’s ability to deal with peaks in demand by 30%, which gives customers a feeling of security and puts Chamtor in a position to benefit from the increased demand expected in the second half of 2010.
And finally, following the discussions held between July and November 2009, Chamtor widened its area of activity by creating commercial partnerships with Féculerie d’Haussimont, a Marne-based starch mill whose product ranges are complementary for its clients in the animal feed and human food industries, as well as technical customers.
