Door Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group - Van Leeuwen enters list top 500 companies at 130 Share Tweet

The Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group enters the FEM Business Top 500 Companies list at number 130, ranking up alongside the leading 25% of companies in the Dutch business world. Galvanised by a flourishing world trade, Dutch companies with an international outlook go like a bomb, the FEM Business Top 500 list shows. Next year’s ‘economic’ forecast still signals green, but for a medium long period signs are less favourable.

This year, following international examples such as the Fortune 500, the Dutch business magazine FEM Business has created a Top 500 Companies in the Netherlands list. This list is based on the sales figures of these companies. Last year, Van Leeuwen’s turnover rose by almost 25% to 552 million euros. Profits rose by almost 60% and reached the high of 35 million euros. And this made the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group part of a list of 100 most profitable Dutch companies!

Dutch economy picks up steam and business looks more promising than ever. Turnovers rise and profits exceed historical highs. The industry operating rate peaked to 83%, higher than the 2001 peak. Low interest rates and a good mood on the stock market enable Dutch companies to lend the money needed for investments and acquisitions on favourable conditions. Dutch companies are positioned optimally in a global era.

Explosive growth of re-export gives enormous impetus to the main ports, ports and air ports and the manufacturing industry is hardly bothered by cheap Chinese products which aren’t made here. Possible job loss is covered amply. Frustrating factors are high prices for oil and raw materials resulting in higher interest rates, and the adverse effects of the proportional increase of the ageing population.

In the short term, the FEM Business Top 500 Companies have excellent prospects. This year and next year, economy will grow a solid 5 percent. According to the International Monetary Fund, this is the strongest growth in 30 years. Statistics Netherlands points out that growth is strongest in the bank sector, wholesale business, business services and the employment branch.

Key figures FEM Business 500:

• 3% growth of Dutch economy next year
• 3 billion euros turnover will Philips generate in China
• 1,7% yearly growth of productivity is realistic (Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis)
• 407 million euros profits are earned by Shell weekly
• 274% rose TomTom’s turnover
• 205 million euros turnover is sufficient to reach the top 250
• 70 million euros turnover is sufficient to enter the FEM Business 500

Source: FEM Business