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*** Dorel Reports Best Year End Results ***

Montreal, Canada -- 03/11/2009



Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B DII.A) today announced results
for the fourth quarter and year ended December 30, 2008.

Revenue for the fourth quarter increased 4.6% to US$479.9
million from US$458.9 million a year ago. Organic revenue
growth was approximately 10%. Net income decreased 14.2
% to US$19.2 million, or US$0.57 per diluted share, from US
$22.3 million, or US$0.67 per diluted share a year ago.

Excluding restructuring costs, net income in 2007
was US$24.0 million, or US$0.72 per diluted share.

Revenue for the year rose 20.3% to US$2.2 billion versus
last year's US$1.8 billion. Organic revenue growth for the
year was 6% and was on track to be higher had it not been
for the slowdown in the fourth quarter. Net income grew 29%
to US$112.9 million or US$3.38 per diluted share from US$87
.5 million or US$2.63 per diluted share. Excluding restructuring
costs in 2007, net income for that year was US$100.1 million
or US$3.01 per diluted share.

Pre-tax earnings were US$19.6 million compared to US$28.6 million
for the quarter and US$132.0 million compared to US$106.6 for the
year. "Dorel's 2008 performance is the best ever achieved despite
challenges which intensified as the year progressed. Rapidly rising
commodity prices were a major factor for a good part of the year,
affecting the majority of the Company's operating divisions.

We were successful in passing some of these higher input costs on
to retailers without significantly weakening consumer demand of Dorel
products at store level. Despite the deepening global economic crisis
through the second half of the year, Dorel's products continued to
demonstrate that they are in demand even in times when retail sales
as a whole decline," commented Dorel CEO and President, Martin
Schwartz.

"However, despite the demand for Dorel's products at retail,
our inventories rose to record levels during the fourth quarter
as retailers reacted to the economic crisis by significantly cutting
back on orders to suppliers, almost across the board, to reduce
their in-stock level.

The vast majority of our inventories are non-seasonal, nor fashion
oriented so we view this as a temporary situation and we have already
seen these inventory levels reduce in the first two months of 2009.

Unfortunately, the retailers' action had the impact of reducing our
sales, earnings and cash flow for the year. Dorel's point-of-sale
(POS) levels remained firm through the quarter. Juvenile and Home
Furnishings sales declines to retailers far exceeded demand at the
consumer level. As an example, sales at Dorel Home Products fell
in the quarter by 51% versus 2007 despite retail sales remaining
steady compared to the prior year.

The Recreational/Leisure segment was able to grow sales organically
in this environment, but they were still lower than our expectations,"
continued Mr. Schwartz.

Juvenile revenue declined 11.2% and was down both in North America
and Europe as orders from retailers dropped to unprecedented levels.

Sales in continental Europe declined by 6.5% organically but increased
by over 35% in the United Kingdom. However the increase in the value
of the US dollar versus both the Euro and pound sterling resulted in
reported revenues declining 12.3% for Europe as whole.

Juvenile earnings were negatively affected by lower sales levels, a less
profitable product mix and higher input costs at most of the segment's
divisions. Counteracting these negatives was the fact that the segment
recorded operational foreign exchanges gains of approximately US$3
million.

These gains were a combination of losses due to the surge in the value
of the US dollar, offset by the recognition of unrealized gains on foreign
exchange contracts. The segment also recorded US$2.1 million in the
quarter as an estimate of the costs to comply with recent US legislation
that regulates the use of lead and phthalates in children's products.
Dorel is well advanced in its compliance with these new regulations.

Full year
Notwithstanding the weaker fourth quarter, the Juvenile segment had its
most successful year as revenues reached US$1.1 billion and earnings
from operations were US$128.2 million. Earnings in 2008 as a percentage
of revenues were 11.6% as compared to 12.0% the prior year, excluding
2007 restructuring costs. All markets experienced sales increases and
excluding the effect of foreign exchange, organic sales growth was 5%
in North America and 7% in Europe.

In North America, revenue growth was fuelled by sales of travel
systems, car seats and strollers. There was sales growth at the
majority of Dorel's largest customers, indicating good acceptance
of the Company's new products and continued strength in service.

Gains in Europe were prompted by progress in car seats and strollers,
their two major product categories. Dorel Europe also posted sales
increases in other categories, such as safety items.

The majority of these increases were in the United Kingdom and
Germany as well as in export sales to several smaller European
countries. Sales in France, the Company's largest European market,
also improved over 2007 levels.

Juvenile gross margins were 29.2% in 2008 as compared to 30.4%
in 2007. Higher product costs and a less profitable product mix
accounted for the decline. As in the fourth quarter, full year results
benefited from the positive impact of foreign exchange.

Recreational/Leisure segment revenues increased by 79.2% in the
fourth quarter, in large part due to the acquisitions of Cannondale/
SUGOI and PTI Sports. Organic sales growth also occurred at the
segment's mass merchant customers in the quarter.

Earnings, however, were hampered by several factors. Product mix
had a negative impact on margins as did the fact that the apparel
component of this segment has a unique seasonality that usually
results in the fourth quarter operating at a loss and this occurred
in 2008.

Additionally as Dorel focuses on building the right infrastructure and
re-engineers certain aspects of the operations, higher costs were
incurred. Finally, selling and marketing costs were higher due to the
timing of certain promotional costs and warranty costs rose driven
by higher sales volumes.

Full year
Earnings from operations for the year improved by 31.4%, benefiting
from both the acquisitions in the year and organic improvements at
Pacific Cycle.

The increase in the segment's revenue was principally due to the 2008
acquisitions of Cannondale/SUGOI and PTI. Organic sales growth was
also substantial at 8%. The increase was driven by the core bicycle
business with sales gains at the majority of the mass merchants.

Gross margins increased to 23.4% from 19.5% in the prior year
primarily due to the contribution of higher margin products sold
by Cannondale and SUGOI. The parts and accessories now sold
through Pacific Cycle also attract higher margins.

Profile
Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is a world class juvenile
products and bicycle company. Established in 1962, Dorel creates
style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value.

The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both
its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting
products.

Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny,
Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bébé Confort in Juvenile, as well as
Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose and SUGOI in Recreational
Leisure.

Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment
of furniture products, both domestically produced and imported.

Dorel is a US$2 billion company with 4600 employees,
facilities in seventeen countries, and sales worldwide.

For Full Dorel Summary Please See:
* www.dorel.com
* www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/11/c7749.html
* www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/11/c7834.html
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