Rieter’s sales increased 24 per cent in the first half of 2018 compared to the previous year period. Order intake too went up by three per cent compared to the previous year period. Despite higher sales in the first half of 2018, Rieter achieved a lower EBIT margin. While earnings in the business group components developed positively, the business group machines and systems posted a decline in profitability. The EBIT margin was 2.7 per cent.
Net profit was 2.1 per cent of sales. The equity ratio as of June 30, 2018, was 43.1 per cent. Rieter achieved strong 80 per cent increase in sales in Asia (not including China, India and Turkey). In particular, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia developed positively. A good level of sales was achieved in China, despite a slight decline of one per cent. In India, sales fell by 36 per cent while demand for machinery improved significantly. In the first half of 2018, sales in Turkey increased by 19 per cent. In the north and south America region, sales increased by 39 per cent.
In some markets, Rieter customers are faced with rising interest rates, strong currency fluctuations, commodity price volatility and political uncertainties.
