The Nordex Group posted an 8.3 per cent increase in sales to € 198.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 (previous year: € 183.1 million). As expected, business volume thus accounted for just under 20% of the forecast full-year sales.
Sales were particularly underpinned by business in Europe, the most important sales region, in which business volume rose by 17.2% to € 169.3 million. Operating profit was burdened by below-average capacity utilisation and lower margins on projects. Earnings before interest and taxes amounted to a loss of € 9.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 (Q1/2011: EBIT of € 0.4 million). At the same time, Nordex lowered its structural costs by some 10%, including a 41.3% reduction in net other operating expenses. The consolidated loss after interest and taxes amounted to € 14 million (Q1/2011: loss of € 1.8 million). Order intake was particularly encouraging, rising to € 312 million (Q1/2011: € 154 million). As a result, the order book grew to € 837 million (Q1/2011: € 402 million). The Management Board of Nordex SE confirms its forecast for 2012 of an increase in sales to € 1.0 - 1.1 billion. Depending on sales and price trends, Nordex also expects to achieve an EBIT margin of between 1% and 3%. With rising capacity utilisation and profitability of the projects still to be executed, this profit will be achieved entirely in the second half of the year.
Sales were particularly underpinned by business in Europe, the most important sales region, in which business volume rose by 17.2% to € 169.3 million. Operating profit was burdened by below-average capacity utilisation and lower margins on projects. Earnings before interest and taxes amounted to a loss of € 9.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 (Q1/2011: EBIT of € 0.4 million). At the same time, Nordex lowered its structural costs by some 10%, including a 41.3% reduction in net other operating expenses. The consolidated loss after interest and taxes amounted to € 14 million (Q1/2011: loss of € 1.8 million). Order intake was particularly encouraging, rising to € 312 million (Q1/2011: € 154 million). As a result, the order book grew to € 837 million (Q1/2011: € 402 million). The Management Board of Nordex SE confirms its forecast for 2012 of an increase in sales to € 1.0 - 1.1 billion. Depending on sales and price trends, Nordex also expects to achieve an EBIT margin of between 1% and 3%. With rising capacity utilisation and profitability of the projects still to be executed, this profit will be achieved entirely in the second half of the year.