The hot 50: Latin America's fastest-growing small companies redline their way to profits.Look at enough macroeconomics macroeconomics Study of the entire economy in terms of the total amount of goods and services produced, total income earned, level of employment of productive resources, and general behaviour of prices. , and you'll go blind from the maddening blandness of it all. LInterest rates climb and fall, commodities prices surge and decline. Gross domestic product: Was there ever a single number in business that could mean so much and so little at the same time? We decided to dig deed into the real economic engines of the region, the thousands of small companies that do the hiring (and firing) and whose collective impact on a country is enormous. Whether an economy is big or small, these are the major employers, the big buyers of supplies, the million tills and balance sheets through which flow the real money in Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. . Taking a close look at which sectors are winning can be a lot more realistic view of a given sector than any number of spitball-economics pronouncements from on high. The LATIN TRADE Latin Trade is a monthly magazine covering global business in Latin America and the Caribbean. Similar to Forbes and Fortune Magazine in coverage, the magazine was founded in 1993 and now publishes 87,000 copies 1 each month in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. HOT 50 ranking is based on revenues and net-income data for the 12 months ending September 30, 2004, plus the average performance during three years, although figures cited are for the 12-month period. Figures are rounded and based on consolidated results reported to the region's stock-market regulators. [1] Inversiones Frimetal Santiago, Chile Santiago, officially Santiago de Chile (Spanish: (helpinfo)), is the capital of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation (Greater Santiago). REVENUES: US$27.3 million Revenues growth: 137% Net-income growth: 10,444% The Chilean holding company for Argentine Argentine having some relationship with the country Argentina. Argentine tick margaropuswinthemi. Argentine tortoise geochelonechilensis. refrigerator- and freezer-manufacturer Gafa, Inversiones Frimetal is riding the wave of Argentina's economic rebound. After spending 2003 in the red, financial manager Juan Cima says their huge earnings increase was because Frimetal was able to register a profit on the heels of Argentina's exponential growth Extremely fast growth. On a chart, the line curves up rather than being straight. Contrast with linear. , which has spurred domestic consumption--sales of home electrical goods in 2004 surged 90.8% at inflation-adjusted prices compared to 2003, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Argentina's national statistics institute. The return of personal credit also spurred sales of consumer durables Consumer durables Consumer products that are expected to last three years or more, such as an automobile or a home appliance. consumer durables See durable goods. . "In 2004, Argentina started to recover from its economic crisis, bringing growth in its domestic market," explains Cima. "That has been reflected at all levels, but particularly in household appliances." Frimetal, too, was able to bank on protectionist pro·tec·tion·ism n. The advocacy, system, or theory of protecting domestic producers by impeding or limiting, as by tariffs or quotas, the importation of foreign goods and services. measures adopted in Argentina in July 2004 to safeguard its domestic appliance domestic appliance domestic n → appareil ménager industry. White-goods manufacturers successfully lobbied the government to set a 50% maximum market share for foreign companies through the application of non-automatic import licenses. In addition, as the Argentine crisis ensued, several global appliance manufacturers, including U.S. brand Whirlpool whirlpool, revolving current in an ocean, river, or lake. It may be caused by the configuration of the shore, irregularities in the bottom of the body of water, the meeting of opposing currents or tides, or the action of the wind upon the water. , shifted production to Brazil. That left Frimetal as one of only two national brand names on an open playing field. [2] Los Portates Holding Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$7 million Revenues growth: 137% Net-income growth: 676% An improving Peruvian economy and a successful organizational restructuring has let the builder generate savings and better results. Better quality products means better profit margins, according to the company. [3] Empresa Termoelectrica de Ventanilla Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$75.3 million Revenues growth: 208% Net-income growth: 301% Hernan Salazar, general manager of Empresa Termoelectrica de Ventanilla (Etevensa), attributes his company's growth to the startup of the Camisea natural gas project and a contract to supply power company Electroperu. "Etevensa replaced its use of diesel with natural gas, and that allowed it not only to reduce generation costs but also improved plant efficiency," Salazar says. The lack of rain was also a major factor, given that domestic demand for power grew by greater-than-expected levels, which helped goose up sales. [4] Cia. Minera Condestable Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$24 million Revenues growth: 71% Net-income growth: 402% According to Condestable General Manager Adalberto Rivadeneira the business has seen constant growth in the last five years thanks to investments made by Grupo Trafigura Beheer (TB), a Dutch company that is the mine's main shareholder. "When copper prices were low and the company was losing money, TB backed three expansions of the mine and plant," Rivadeneira says. A recovery in the price of copper on international markets was also a driving force in Condestable's rebound. [5] Cia. Bandeirantes de Armazens Gerais Sao Paulo, Brazil REVENUES: US$6.9 million Revenues growth: 91% Net-income growth: 197% Record Brazilian exports in 2004 rained money down on Companhia Bandeirantes. One of the top two warehouse companies in Brazil, Bandeirantes saw sales rise on a huge influx of goods at the ports, where it concentrates 70% of its services. "When exports rise, imports also rise and the business thrives on this movement of merchandise," says Elifal Araujo, the company's commercial director. [6] Rossi Residencial Sao Paulo, Brazil REVENUES: US$92.1 million Revenues growth: 50% Net-income growth: 397% With nearly 24,000 units opened in a little more than two decades of existence, builder Rossi Residencial has, according to Luciana Rossi, the company's director, grown by diversifying its mix of products and by expanding to build in more regions in Brazil. Also, the company, which started out developing high-end projects, has begun to build housing for middle-income projects. [7] Geodex Communications Sao Paulo, Brazil REVENUES: US$8 million Revenues growth: 46% Net-income growth: 185% Founded in the middle of the dot-com boom See dot-com bubble. , in 2000, network infrastructure provider Geodex owes its growth to two factors--the installation of fiber-optic cables alongside the railway lines of its partner America Latina Logistica, Latin America's largest logistics operator, and to having no debts. "Given our strong management on costs, we expect to maintain this growth rate for the next few years," says Cristian Weissenborn, Geodex's finance director. [8] Cia. Industrial Cataguases Cataguases, Brazil REVENUES: US$51.4 million Revenues growth: 29% Net-income growth: 4,615% In the past six years, traditional textile company Cataguases invested $33 million in modernizing its plant, where annually 29 million linear meters of pure cotton fabric are produced, 40% of which is exported. A capital increase also invigorated in·vig·or·ate tr.v. in·vig·or·at·ed, in·vig·or·at·ing, in·vig·or·ates To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to; animate: "A few whiffs of the raw, strong scent of phlox invigorated her" the company. "We came out of a series of unprofitable periods with earnings of $2 million and we should stay the course in the coming years," says Jose Inacio Peixoto Neto, administrative and finance director of the company. [9] Sopravat La Calera, Chile La Calera is a city and municipality (population, 50,644, 2007 estimate) in the V Region of Valparaíso, Chile. Location and limits La Calera is located in the Province of Quillota, Fifth Region of Chile, 66 km from Valparaíso, and 118 km from Santiago. REVENUES: US$83.2 million Revenues growth: 29% Net-income growth: 2,472% Chile's largest poultry producer, Sopraval's revenues and net income shot up in part on spending money. "It's the beginning of a return on big technology investments Sopraval has been making since 2002," says General Manager Patricio Allende. Tech spending led to a 15% increase in production and sales during the entirety of 2004, Allende says, but most important was 25% growth in the country's exports. That increase largely came from European markets made more accessible by a free trade agreement signed between Chile and the European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community in 2003. [10] Fondo Ganadero de Cordoba cor·do·ba n. See Table at currency. [American Spanish córdoba, after Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (1475?-1526?), Spanish explorer.] Noun 1. Monteria, Colombia REVENUES: US$0.9 million Revenues growth: 28% Net-income growth: 863% This six-employee company, with assets of $6.6 million, sells between 250 and 300 head of cattle a month, which in 2004 brought in $875,000. Security programs promoted by President Alvaro Uribe have been key to providing the stability needed by the company, which operates from the city of Monteria, a traditional target of guerrilla groups. Uribe himself owns lands in the area. [11] Fibam Cia. Industrial Sao Bernardo do Campo São Ber·nar·do do Cam·po A city of southeast Brazil, an industrial suburb of São Paulo. Population: 740,000. Noun 1. Sao Bernardo do Campo - a city in southeastern Brazil; an industrial suburb of Sao Paulo , Brazil REVENUES: US$26.9 million Revenues growth: 40% Net-income growth: 187% Getting into new markets, strengthening ties with major clients and increasing profitability by eliminating low-selling items, so-called "dogs." That's been the best formula for Fibam, a producer of metal fixatives, 66% of which are sold to the automotive sector. A specialist in all kind of bolts, such as those that go in automobile frames and steering columns steering column n (Aut) → colonne f de direction steering column steer n (Aut) → Lenksäule f steering column , transmissions and compressors, the company said it had a strong year in part because of investments. "We attribute our growth mainly to investments on the order of $2.5 million, which led to market share increases and our entry into the motorcycle business," says Luiz Carlos Richieri, director of sales and marketing. He says Fibam has already programmed investments of $2 million more for the years 2005 and 2006, a period in which he projects at minimum 40% growth. This positive outlook--for a company that started 50 years ago as a small producer of wood screws a metal screw with a sharp thread of coarse pitch, adapted to holding fast in wood. See Illust. of See also: Screw and today operates a modern, totally automated industrial plant that produces 13,000 tons of bolts a year--is based on solid financial results and a client list heavy with auto industry giants, among them Fiat, GM, Honda, Embraco and Tecumseh. [12] Convertidora Industrial Guadatajara, Mexico REVENUES: US$42.5 million Revenues growth: 39% Net-income growth: 1,798% The 2003 partnership of Convertidora Industrial (Conver) and Anagram anagram [Gr.,=something read backward], rearrangement of the letters of a word or words to make another word or other words. A famous Latin anagram was an answer made out of a question asked by Pilate. International, a U.S. manufacturer of Mylar balloons, helped the Mexican packaging company grow dramatically. The combination of the two has resulted in ConverGram, which has a license from Warner Brothers Warner Brothers (b. Eichelbaums) movie executives; Harry (Morris) (1881–1958), born in Krasnashiltz, Poland; Albert (1884–1967), born in Baltimore, Md.; Samuel (1887–1927), born in Baltimore, Md. to print the U.S. entertainment giant's characters--among them the Flintstones, Spider-Man and Tom and Jerry--on its balloons. "Because of this strategic alliance, we expect to maintain these levels of growth in the future," says Jose Antonio Alvarez, Conver's finance director. [13] Agroindustrias San Jacinto San Jacinto, river, c.130 mi (210 km) long, rising in SE Texas as the West Fork and flowing S to Galveston Bay. Its chief tributary is Buffalo Bayou, and both the bayou and the lower river are used for the Houston ship channel. Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$30.4 million Revenues growth: 45% Net-income growth: 225% In the last nine years, Agroindustrias San Jacinto (AISJ AISJ American International School of Johannesburg AISJ Anglican International School of Jerusalem (Israel) ) grew to 6,000 hectares under cultivation from 1,800 hectares. Sales grew accordingly. "We achieved these results by increasing productivity and capacity and by increasing our investments, particularly by modernizing our processing factory," says Juan Manuel Several Spanish and Portuguese princes wore this name:
[14] Cia. Minera Atacocha Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$74.9 million Revenues growth: 41% Net-income growth: 152% Mining company Atacocha has changed quite a lot in the last four years. "We've made significant investments in improving the mine's processing cycles, which has allowed us to improve production capacity and increase the company's output," says Juan Jose Herrera, Atacocha's general manager. [15] Minasmaquinas Contagem, Brazil REVENUES: US$27 million Revenues growth: 54% Net-income growth: 158% A growing automotive business means good results for the sellers of used cars. Minasmaquinas, which is made up of four companies--a DaimlerChrysler-MercedesBenz concession and resellers of tractors, farm machines, buses and trucks, among other vehicles--benefited from Brazil's improving automobile business. [16] Cia. Brasileira de Contact Center Sao Paulo, Brazil REVENUES: US$47.3 million Revenues growth: 23% Net-income growth: 191% Cia. Brasileira de Contact Center (CBCC CBCC Community Based Child Care CBCC Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce CBCC Cloudbase Country Club (governing body of hang gliding sites in western WA) CBCC Conviction By Civil Court ) ended the period with sales high and with a corporate restructuring, turning it into an investment holding company. The two main shareholders--Credit Suisse First Boston First Boston Corporation was a New York-based investment bank, founded in 1932 and acquired by Credit Suisse in 1988, when it became 'CS First Boston'. Globally referred to as Credit Suisse First Boston after 1996, the First Boston part of the name was phased out in 2006. and Victori Participacoes--recently told the markets that they would pass the operations of CBCC to two other companies in the holding company. Teleperformance CRM (Customer Relationship Management) An integrated information system that is used to plan, schedule and control the presales and postsales activities in an organization. will take over the call center, while Teletrim Wireless will run wireless operations. [17] Excelsior Alimentos Santa Cruz do Sul Santa Cruz do Sul is a city in central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The city has approximately 117,000 inhabitants and sits about 150 km (about 93 miles) from the capital city of the state, Porto Alegre. The city enjoys a high standard of living and Gross Income per Capita is 2. , Brazil REVENUES: US$13 million Revenues growth: 24% Net-income growth: 577% Three years ago, food-industry company Excelsior was bloated bloat·ed adj. 1. Much bigger than desired: a bloated bureaucracy; a bloated budget. 2. Medicine Swollen or distended beyond normal size by fluid or gaseous material. , debt-ridden and weak. A serious restructuring cut half the workforce and eliminated any activity that wasn't involved in the production of pork, chicken and turkey. With its goals reexamined, Excelsior returned to growth in 2002. Helio Lazzari, commercial director for the company, estimates a 20% jump in revenues to $13 million in 2005. [18] Metalurgica Riosulense Rio do Sul, Brazil REVENUES: US$19.6 million Revenues growth: 44% Net-income growth: 74% The year 2004 was an excellent one not only for the Brazilian auto industry but also for makers of auto parts Auto parts are components of automobiles. They mainly are, in alphabetic order (only car specific articles or articles with car section):
[19] Sociedad Punta del Cobre Copiapo, Chile REVENUES: US$99.2 million Revenues growth: 52% Net-income growth: 86% Pucobre owes its impressive growth to the meteoric me·te·or·ic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or formed by a meteoroid. 2. Of or relating to the earth's atmosphere. 3. rise of copper during 2004, with prices reaching their highest level in more than a decade. The rise in commodity prices alone explains the revenues jump, while average three-year earnings increased 115%, reaching $35 million. Pucobre saw record production in 2003 and 2004, and last year it began seeing returns on mining investments of more than $60 million made over the past four years, including the San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. plant and Punta del Cobre mine. [20] Schulz Joinville, Brazil REVENUES: US$87.6 million Revenues growth: 50% Net-income growth: 65% The biggest manufacturer of compressors in Latin America, with capacity to make 50,000 tons of finished parts a year, Shulz is cranking up better numbers--including $3 million in net profits--on Brazil's recovering automotive sector. The company's major markets are Latin America and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . [21] Empresa Electrica de Piura Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$62 million Revenues growth: 45% Net-income growth: 271% Lack of rain and the high price of oil have negatively affected the Peruvian energy business. But just those factors have allowed producers that burn cheaper fuels, like hydroelectric company Empresa Electrica de Piura, to send power to grind in greater amounts. "There was an opportunity in the market, and we took advantage of it," says Bernardo Canales, general manager at Piura. Renegotiating natural gas contracts and a rigorous maintenance plan also have benefited the company, he says. [22] Cia. Minera Raura Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$29.6 million Revenues growth: 32% Net-income growth: 203% "Better metals prices in the international market has meant positive results," says Heraclio Rios Quinteros, Raura's general manager. The development of a new lead-and silver-producing area also has been a factor. [23] Indeco Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$92.5 million Revenues growth: 71% Net-income growth: 143% Cable-maker Indeco attributes its spectacular net-income growth to taking advantage of market opportunities and "permanently worrying" about cost cutting, inventories and debt, as well as controlling customer credit lines. "Attending to the well-being of our employees and our vision of win-win with the customer has without a doubt also contributed to the success of the company," says Indeco General Manager Juan Enrique Rivera. [24] Heredia y Santana Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$1.9 million Revenues growth: 81% Net-income growth: 54% Heredia y Santana, which does project management in mining, petrochemicals and industry, attributes its rise in revenues to an improved positioning of its brand. "As a result of word of mouth, and an aggressive marketing campaign, we were able to double our client base in 2004," to eight large companies, says executive director Gerardo Santana. A big increase in foreign investment in Chile also had a positive impact, he says. [25] Sondotecnica Engenharia de Solos Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, city, Brazil Rio de Janeiro (rē`ō də zhänā`rō, Port. rē`  thĭ zhənĕē`r , BrazilREVENUES: US$18.8 million Revenues growth: 43% Net-income growth: 502% When Brazil and other countries in Latin America plan big infrastructure projects like sewer, transport, energy, irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. and construction, Sondotecnica executives celebrate. Now 50 years in operation, the engineering consulting company Noun 1. consulting company - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting firm business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a has a portfolio of 2,000 contracts among 400 clients in the region. [26] Cia. Minera Santa Luisa Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$32.8 million Revenues growth: 38% Net-income growth: 141% Minera Santa Luisa, a zinc producer, owes a lot of its growth to rising international prices. "Increasing demand for zinc concentrate Zinc concentrate is a highly hazardous product used in the production of zinc metal and zinc alloys, which is the result of a flotation process after the zinc ore has been mined and milled. and production costs also influenced the company's results," says Santa Luisa General Manager Takashi Sato. [27] Motores Diesel Andinos Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$16.2 million Revenues growth: 47% Net-income growth: 181% Although sustainable growth in Peru over the past few years has doubtlessly helped Motores Diesel Andinos (Modasa), General Manager Hector Garda Bejar says internal changes at the company made a big difference, too. "We have presented diversified and improved products at internationally competitive prices, which has allowed us to increase sales in Peru and abroad." [28] Grupo Profesional Planeacion y Proyectos Mexico City Mexico City Spanish Ciudad de México City (pop., 2000: city, 8,605,239; 2003 metro. area est., 18,660,000), capital of Mexico. Located at an elevation of 7,350 ft (2,240 m), it is officially coterminous with the Federal District, which occupies 571 sq mi , Mexico REVENUES: US$22.6 million Revenues growth: 56% Net-income growth: 26% Grupo Profesional Planeacion y Proyectos attributes its income rise to a recovery in the Mexican infrastructure sector. In the last two years it has supervised and engineered two oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico Noun 1. Gulf of Mexico - an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico Golfo de Mexico Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean - the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east for state-run oil company Pemex, and a hydroelectric project for the government's state power company, Comision Federal de Electricidad. "Ten years ago no big hydroelectric projects were done in Mexico, so we ended up only doing things in one field," says Guillermo Barnetche, the company's director. [29] Industria de Productos Alimenticios Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$26.4 million Revenues growth: 63% Net-income growth: 68% Marketing helped this food industry retailer increase its revenues. General Manager Manuel De Aretxabala attributes the increases to the use of widely-recognized cartoon characters as well as to the inclusion of new products and the elimination of less-popular product lines. [30] Mirgor Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (bwā`nəs ī`rēz, âr`ēz, Span. bwā`nōs ī`rās), city and federal district (1991 pop. , Argentina REVENUES: US$56.2 million Revenues growth: 51% Net-income growth: 195% Mirgor specializes in climate-control systems for the automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. . Industry observers say that Argentina's economic crisis wiped the sector clean of competitors, while a nascent nascent /nas·cent/ (nas´ent) (na´sent) 1. being born; just coming into existence. 2. just liberated from a chemical combination, and hence more reactive because uncombined. recovery has significantly increased demand for the company's products. [31] Mineros de Antioquia Medellin, Colombia REVENUES: US$25.1 million Revenues growth: 33% Net-income growth: 183% A mining company focused on gold and gold-mining byproducts, Antioquia has benefited from better security conditions in Colombia. It doesn't hurt that the company's operations are in the province of Antioquia, home of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, where the presence of the Colombian army has doubled. In addition, the company last year bought a new mine, as-yet-unexplored, while the world price of gold has skyrocketed. [32] Industrias Electro E`lec´tro n. 1. An electrotype. Quimicas Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$52.9 million Revenues growth: 54% Net-income growth: 18% Industrias Electro Quimicas makes, sells and exports zinc products and chemicals and attributes its growth in large part to the rising price of zinc and the strengthening euro. "We have focused on the European market as an objective," says General Manager Raul Musso. [33] Intradevco Industrial Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$45.6 million Revenues growth: 50% Net-income growth: 67% Intradevco makes household cleaners and personal-care products. In 1998 the company faced a tough time when it lost the license it held with U.S. consumer products giant SC Johnson, which it had held since 1949, once the U.S. company began to export its products directly to Peru. Managers figured Intradevco was done for, since 70% of its income vanished with that decision. Nevertheless, the company knew how to turn the situation to its advantage: It decided to create its own brand and to create brands for other companies. In just six years, Intradevco went from three product categories (floor wax, shoe-care products and furniture polishes furniture polish n → cera para muebles furniture polish n → encaustique f furniture polish furniture n → ) to 37. Today, it makes branded products for the country's largest supermarkets. In one year, the company managed to introduce more than 90 aerosol aerosol (âr`əsōl,–sŏl): see colloid. aerosol System of tiny liquid or solid particles evenly distributed in a finely divided state through a gas, usually air. products into the domestic market (a world record, according to Spray Technology magazine) and captured 40% of the domestic market for toothpaste toothpaste, n See dentifrice. with its Dento brand, cutting into market share of U.S. brand Colgate. Thanks to Dento, the price of a tube of toothpaste in Peru fell 54%. [34] Tablemac Medellin, Colombia REVENUES: US$21.3 million Revenues growth: 34% Net-income growth: 186% Furniture maker Tablemac, with 159 employees, owes its growth figure to "increasing domestic economic growth and, in the last two years, a significant increase in the construction sector," says David Duque, the company's general manager. Tablemac exports close to 20% of its production. [35] Empresa Agraria Azucarera Andahuasi Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$30 million Revenues growth: 34% Net-income growth: 840% Credit for Andahuasi's growth goes to a strategic plan dating back to 1997, says Eduardo Nunez, general manager for the sugar grower. "We got strong again and we bought new lands in order to assure our continual production of sugar," he says. Investment in a new industrial plant in 2000 also allowed the company to double monthly sugar output. [36] Caputo Buenos Aires, Argentina REVENUES: US$18.7 million Revenues growth: 106% Net-income growth: 94% Builder Caputo has increased sales over 12 months despite a loss in the quarter ending September 2004. "Construction was the driving force in post-default Argentina, and our company began to carry out very ambitious projects," leading to growth for the full period, says Enrique Gonzalez, commercial manager for the company. In addition, Gonzalez says, "real-estate projects in which the company had invested were highly successful." He highlights the Puerto Madero Puerto Madero is a neighborhood, or barrio, of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, which occupies a significant portion of the Río de la Plata riverbank. History In the 1930s, port facilities were relocated to Puerto Nuevo project, begun at the end of 2004 and now one of Buenos Aires' most sophisticated and fastest-growing neighborhoods, as an unqualified success. In Puerto Madero Caputo has built the "El Mirador El Mirador is a large pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization, located in the north of the modern department of El Petén, Guatemala. The site was first discovered in 1926, and was photographed from the air in 1930, but the remote site deep in the jungle had little more " apartment complex, a 32,000 square-meter project, to which the company will add another building opening in mid-2005, this time on the northern side of Buenos Aires. "These projects are going to exponentially ex·po·nen·tial adj. 1. Of or relating to an exponent. 2. Mathematics a. Containing, involving, or expressed as an exponent. b. increase our growth in 2005, in addition to a renewed effort to insert ourselves into the public-works arena," says Gonzalez. [37] Alpargatas Buenos Aires, Argentina REVENUES: US$95.6 million Revenues growth: 58% Net-income growth: 45% A consumer textiles and shoe company--until the 1980s associated with the Brazilian company of the same name--Alpargatas owes it growth, industry watchers say, to the work it has done in selling through retail channels. It sells shoes through four distinctly marketed store names, including Outlet (seconds and discounted with discounts averaging 30%), Topper Topper house he purchases is haunted by the young couple who owned it previously and their dog. [Am. Lit., Cin., TV: Topper in Halliwell, 718] See : Ghost Topper Hopalong Cassidy’s faithful horse. Stores (mall-style stores with sales people), Alpargatas Directos (for families) and Alpargatas Basicos (discount superstores This is a list of superstores by country. Multi-national
[38] Infodema Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$13.2 million Revenues growth: 22% Net-income growth: 277% Plywood plywood, manufactured board composed of an odd number of thin sheets of wood glued together under pressure with grains of the successive layers at right angles. Laminated wood differs from plywood in that the grains of its sheets are parallel. manufacturer Infodema's managers credit export growth and stable commodity prices for its stellar performance. Company President Robert Behrens says exports increased 32% in 2004, particularly to Canada, Mexico, Europe and the United States, the latter two on new free trade agreements. "Most of Chile's exports come from plantation wood, while countries that rely on native forests [like Indonesia] have seen production fall," Behrens says. [39] Grimoldi Buenos Aires, Argentina REVENUES: US$32.1 million Revenues growth: 35% Net-income growth: 293% Shoe company Grimoldi owes its growth, analysts say, to a reversal of fortune driven by the devaluation devaluation, decreasing the value of one nation's currency relative to gold or the currencies of other nations. It is usually undertaken as a means of correcting a deficit in the balance of payments. of the Argentine peso The peso (originally established as the nuevo peso argentino or peso convertible) is the currency of Argentina. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS, and the symbol used locally for it is $ (to avoid confusion, Argentines frequently use US$, , getting into new markets abroad and a rise in domestic demand. [40] Puerto Ventanas Quintero and Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$80.6 million Revenues growth: 51% Net-income growth: 60% A shipping and rail transport company, Puerto Ventanas capitalized on Chile's overall increase in exports. The man in charge of Puerto Ventanas' management and finances, Rodrigo Meissburger, says Chinese demand for Chilean copper was hot, but that the company also has been transporting more containers, too, bearing all kinds of products. As for the railroad portion of Ventanas' holdings, a new pulp plant in southern Chile Southern Chile is one of the five natural regions of Chile defined by the CONAMA. Southern Chile stretches from below the Río Bío-Bío at about 38° south latitude to below Isla de Chiloé at about 43.4° south latitude. increased loads by 15%. Energy rationing rationing, allotment of scarce supplies, usually by governmental decree, to provide equitable distribution. It may be employed also to conserve economic resources and to reinforce price and production controls. in Argentina also had an indirect impact on sales because Chile's port in Quintero had to handle more coal to compensate for the reduced supply of oil from Argentina, Meissburger says. [41] Instituto Sanitas Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$15 million Revenues growth: 32% Net-income growth: 105% A pharmaceutical, vaccine and chemical manufacturer, Sanitas began as a public health non-profit started by a group of Chilean doctors in the 1920s. Over the years, its investments increased to include one of Chile's main pharmaceutical plants, as well as production and importation of products, including eye drops eye drops eye npl → gouttes fpl pour les yeux eye drops eye npl → Augentropfen pl , inhalers and pills. [42] Quilicura Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$8.6 million Revenues growth: 15% Net-income growth: 226% A holding company with investments in industrial production such as metalworking and enameled e·nam·el n. 1. A vitreous, usually opaque, protective or decorative coating baked on metal, glass, or ceramic ware. 2. An object having such a coating, as in a piece of cloisonné. 3. surfaces, as well as investment vehicles, Quilicura saw profits rise for all companies in its portfolio in 2004. "There's nothing spectacular to explain our increased earnings," says Quilicura General Manager Sergio Derpich, "only that the companies we have in our holding performed exceptionally well ... and this reflects the overall improvement in the Chilean economy." [43] Inversiones Centenario Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$14.1 million Revenues growth: 58% Net-income growth: 14% According to Centenario General Manager Fernando Romero Fernando Romero is a Mexican architect. He was born in Mexico City in 1971 and graduated in 1995 at Universidad Iberoamericana. He was president of the student society in 1994. Worked with OMA, with Rem Koolhaas in Rotterdam, Holland from 1997-2000. , the real-estate company has grown because of increased demand and because of higher-quality, innovative products, an improvement in purchasing power Purchasing Power 1. The value of a currency expressed in terms of the amount of goods or services that one unit of money can buy. Purchasing power is important because, all else being equal, inflation decreases the amount of goods or services you'd be able to purchase. 2. and a building inventory right for the market. "Our direct-financing capacity for customers without access to the financial system has also been a factor," Romero says. In addition, the company eliminated some marginal businesses, reorganized re·or·gan·ize v. re·or·gan·ized, re·or·gan·iz·ing, re·or·gan·iz·es v.tr. To organize again or anew. v.intr. To undergo or effect changes in organization. its workforce and restructured, reducing costs dramatically while increasing sales. [44] Panatlantica Gravatai, Brazil REVENUES: US$80.7 million Revenues growth: 25% Net-income growth: 12% Panatlantica, which makes 97% of its sales domestically, makes and processes fiat stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. . Managers say that the rising Brazilian steel industry in general is creating demand and helping the company perform better. "This year, we'll invest $3 million in improvements, mainly in buying new equipment," says Jose Antonio Vargas Antonio Vargas Guatatuca is a quechua indigenous of Ecuador. He was leader of Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de Ecuador (CONAIE) and Minister for Social Welfare in the Lucio Gutiérrez government. , finance director of the company. [45] Electro Aco Altona Blumenau, Brazil. REVENUES: US$34.6 million Revenues growth: 76% Net-income growth: 85% Exports are increasingly the focus of the strategic plan for Electro Aco Altona, a maker of rough, forged and finished machine parts to order for companies in the mining, electrical generation and heavy machinery sectors. It already exports 30% of its production and expects to increase that figure to 45% by 2008. "Demand abroad is heating up, while domestic demand, with the exception of the mining business, is holding still," says Pedro Crestani, export manager for the company. [46] Encorpar (Empresa Nacional de Comercio, Redito e Participacao] Sao Paulo, Brazil. REVENUES: US$50.7 million Revenues growth: 34% Net-income growth: 11% A holding company linked to the Coteminas textile group, Encorpar doesn't produce so much as harvest its share of two weavers--29% of Cedro e Cachoeira Ind. Textil and 35% of Fiacao e Tecelagem Sao Jose--as well as cattle ranching and real-estate holdings. [47] Metalurgia Duque Joinville, Brazil REVENUES: US$33.2 million Revenues growth: 28% Net-income growth: 109% Brazilians bought a lot of household appliances from neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. countries in the past year, especially from Argentina, and because of this the winners were not just manufacturers but also parts makers involved in the sector. That was the case for Duque, a metalworking company that annually produces 25,000 tons of parts for items as varied as refrigerators and freezers, automobiles and bicycles, and whose main exports go to the Mercosur trade bloc A trade bloc is a large free trade area formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. Typically trade pacts that define such a bloc specify formal adjudication bodies, e.g. NAFTA trade panels. of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. [48] Hidrostal Lima, Peru REVENUES: US$14.2 million Revenues growth: 30% Net-income growth: 137% Aside from providing the best quality and service to its customers, Hidrostal General Manager Pedro Luksic credits the success and growth of his company, which makes pumps and motors, to recent investments in Peru, especially in the mining, agriculture and agribusiness agribusiness Agriculture operated by business; specifically, that part of a modern national economy devoted to the production, processing, and distribution of food and fibre products and byproducts. sectors. "The combination of several projects in those areas, as well as the growth of the Peruvian economy, has strongly benefited us," he says. [49] Granoleo Porto Alegre Porto Alegre Port and city(pop., 2005 est.: city, 1,386,900; metro. area, 3,978,263), southern Brazil. Located along the Guaíba River near the Atlantic Ocean coast, it was founded c. 1742 by immigrants from the Azores. It was first known as Porto dos Casais. , Brazil REVENUES: US$1.6 million Revenues growth: 11% Net-income growth: 141% After accumulated debts in previous years as a processor of bran and soy oil, Granoleo caught its breath in 2004. Francisco Avila, market relations director for the company, says the turnaround is due to strong demand for storage of soybeans and corn, which has become the company's main activity in recent years. [50] Andacor Santiago, Chile REVENUES: US$2.4 million Revenues growth: 12% Net-income growth: 330% Creating snow during a sunny Chilean winter is what put Andacor ahead in 2004. The tourism company operates the El Colorado and Farellones ski resorts in a country where tourism is growing fast. It used a snow-making machine as early as June; generally, skiing is best in Chile in late August and early September. "We were able to open six weeks earlier than our competition," says Andacor General Manager Ramon Haeussler. Increased interest from foreign ski teams, largely from Canada and the United States The United States and Canada share a unique legal relationship. U.S. law looks northward with a mixture of optimism and cooperation, viewing Canada as an integral part of U.S. economic and environmental policy. , to train in the off-season also accounted for heavier traffic on the slopes.
Breakdown by country
number of companies
Brazil 16
Peru 15
Chile 10
Argentina 4
Colombia 3
Mexico 2
SOURCE: Economatica, LATIN TRADE
Top five by revenues growth
1-year growth rate *
Etevensa 208%
Inv. Frimetal 137%
Los Portales Holding 137%
Caputo 106%
Cia. Bandeirantes 91%
SOURCE: Economatica, LATIN TRADE
* 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2004
Top five by net-income growth
1 year growth rate *
Inv. Frimetal 10,444%
Cia. Industrial Cataguases 4,615%
Sopraval 2,472%
Convertidora Industrial 1,798%
Fondo Ganadero de Cordoba 863%
SOURCE: Economatica, LATIN TRADE
* 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2004
Tops in the hottest sector--mining
1-year growth rate, revenues
Cia. Minera Condestable 71%
Sociedad Punta del Cobre 52%
Cia. Minera Atacocha 41%
Cia. Minera Santa Luisa 38%
Mineros de Antioquia 33%
Cia. Minera Raura 32%
SOURCE: Economatica, LATIN TRADE
MARGARIDA O. PFEIFER * SAO PAULO JEN ROSS * SANTIAGO MARISOL RUEDA * MEXICO CITY JUAN PEDRO TOMAS TOMAS Tool for Operations Modeling and Analysis in Space TOMAS Testbed of Mobile Applications for Satellite Communications * BUENOS AIRES LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. WING * LIMA |
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