Delfin Grou USA has had its ban lifted on selling products abroad, but may choose to stay at home in the short-term.
The lubes and motor oil producer, based in South Carolina, was handed the ban by US government officials after Delfin's then President, Markos Baghdasarian, was charged with selling and exporting aviation lubes and polymers to Iran, despite US export santcions imposed on the Middle East state.
Although the legal battle continues against Baghdasarian continues, Delfin now has a new President, John Gordon, and recent news from US-based Lube Report states that the Federal ban on Delfin exporting any products outside the US has now been lifted.
However, Gordon is clearly in no hurry to go back into the export business. Having helped the company overcome the shock of Baghdasarian's arrest and the banning order, which severely damaged the internal structure of the business and cost more than 25% of the workforce, he set about rebuilding the business. As well as bringing in a compliance officer, Gordon apparently told the sales force to look as close to home as possible for its sales, focusing on the South East of the US.
Since March 2012, when the ban was first imposed, Delfin has gained new customers and significantly improved its monthly sales figures. Despite the relaxation on exports, Gordon was clear in his view that Delfin will continue to focus on its US customers, but is already looking at the Americas and Caribbean for new customers. Any move further afield is unlikely to be for another year and the Middle East will certainly not be the sales team's first port of call.