NEWS COVERAGE - FRANCE

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK

May 15th, 2015
Business Sweden in Paris

EUROPE: THE SWEDISH STEEL MANUFACTURER SSABS

STRATEGY TO INCREASE PROFITABLITY
The Swedish steel manufacturer presented its new strategy at the French construction market exhibition, Salon
Intermat, the 20th-25th of April
Having suffered from decreasing profitability from 2007 to 2013, SSAB has therefore set the objective to strengthen its
presence on the European market:
The operating income increased to 894 MSEK in 2014, compared to a loss of 1.2 bnSEK in 2013

After the merger with its Finnish counterpart Rautaruukki last July, SSAB focuses on three main areas:
1.

Elastic steel products, with its newly developed product called Strenx

2.

Flat steel, mainly sold in the Nordics

3.

Steel plates, with the United States as a focus market

Two important French customers:

Renault Trucks, using SSABs products in agricultural equipment
SNOP, supplier to the automotive industry

SOURCE: 1
BUSINESS SWEDEN

15 MAY, 2015

FRANCE: THE FRENCH AND SWEDISH RAILWAYS

AMONG THE BEST IN EUROPE
The Boston Consulting Group presented a study the 28th
of April, comparing the railway system of 25 European
countries using their so called Railway Performance
Index , which is based on three factors:
1.

Intensity of utilization, i.e. number of passengers and

tonnage of freight

2.

Quality of service, i.e. punctuality of arrivals,

proportion of high speed trains as well as ticket price

3.

Security, i.e. number of deaths and accidents as a

function of number of kilometres covered

On the basis of these three factors, France ranks third,

after Sweden, ranking second and Switzerland, ranking
first
The report states that there is a strong correlation
between public spending and investments and the
ranking of national railways
Countries that invested in infrastructure rather in
operations were ranked higher
SOURCE: 2, 3 & 4
BUSINESS SWEDEN

15 MAY, 2015

FRANCE: RENAULT TRUCKS DISMISSES 591 EMPLOYEES

AT THE HEADQUARTER IN LYON
During an exceptional board meeting Tuesday 28/04, representatives of Renault Trucks announced that 591 job
opportunities will disappear at Renault Trucks headquarter in Lyon, according to Volvo Group, owner of Renault Trucks
Decreasing the number of employees is seen as a strategy to improve profitability
The French subsidiary faces structural costs which are said to be too high, according to Volvo Group
Renault Trucks currently employs 8.500 people, after previously dismissing 508 employees globally in March, not
renewing some 800 interim jobs as well as letting employees retire in advance

Renault Trucks struggled in 2014, when sales dropped due to European anti-pollution regulations, which were put in
place in September during the same year
The truck constructor faced a 35 % increase in sales during the first quarter of 2015, thanks to the launch of new
models coupled with an increasing demand

SOURCE: 5 ,6 & 7
BUSINESS SWEDEN

15 MAY, 2015

SOURCES
1. Les Echos 28/04/2015, Acier : l'outsider sudois SSAB veut retrouver son rang,
http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150428/lec2_industrie_et_services/02121338466-acier-loutsider-suedois-ssab-veut-retrouver-son-rang-1115059.php
2. Les Echos 29/04/2015, Le systme ferroviaire franais reste parmi les plus performants d'Europe,
http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150429/lec2_industrie_et_services/02136382940-le-systeme-ferroviaire-francais-reste-parmi-les-plus-performantsdeurope-1115250.php
3. La tribune 28/04/2015, Le rseau ferroviaire franais jug parmi les plus performants d'Europe,
http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/services/transport-logistique/reseaux-ferroviaires-la-france-sur-le-podium-europeen-472373.html
4. The Boston Consulting Group 28/04/2015, A New Study Explores the Link Between European Railway Performance and Allocation of Public Subsidies,
http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-186691
5. Les Echos 29/04/2015, Coup de frein sur l'emploi chez Renault Trucks,
http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20150429/lec2_industrie_et_services/02136679578-coup-de-frein-sur-lemploi-chez-renault-trucks-1115324.php
6. LArgus 26/09/2014, Norme antipollution Euro 6 : quoi a sert ?,
http://www.largus.fr/actualite-automobile/norme-antipollution-euro-6-a-quoi-ca-sert-4931379.html
7. LUsine Nouvelle 29/04/2015, Renault Trucks supprime 512 postes,
http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/renault-trucks-supprime-512-postes-trimestre-record-pour-apple-croissance-chinoise-la-revue-de-presse-de-lindustrie.N327365

BUSINESS SWEDEN

15 MAY, 2015