EXCHANGE RATES FORCE IRISH COMPANY TO PRODUCE SHELVING.

Mushroom growers in the South are all too aware of the effect of the fall invalue of Sterling against the Euro.

Those going to the US on holidays will similarly be aware of the fall in the value of the US Dollar against the Euro and other currencies.

The Ukrainian currency the Hryvnia has weakened by 40% against the Euro in the last 2 years.

The Romanian Leu has weakened by 20% in the last 9 months.

The exception to this trend is the Polish Zloty.

The Zloty has increased in value by 40% over the last 4 years -10% in thelast 6 months.

This is good news for Irish mushroom growers, but bad news for any company importing shelving from Poland for the past 5 years.

With rising costs due to labour scarcity and exchange rates, Polish shelving isnow more expensive - like for like - than the Dutch manufactured product.

The indigenous manufacturing company, AST Totten Ltd design their own shelving, and produce it in a weak currency area.

By making the shelving transport friendly they have saved a further 2 Euro, per square metre, on transport costs.

It is their belief that they now offer the best specification and the best priced shelving available anywhere in the world.