Order intake and sales robust at high level due to strong demand for capital goods / Group earnings impacted by difficult price situation in materials and startup losses at Steel Americas / All continuing operations except Steel Americas with positive earnings contributions / Quarter-on-quarter improvement in adjusted EBIT / Outlook: Moderate improvement in second half and for fiscal year as a whole adjusted EBIT in the mid three-digit million euro range
In the first half 2011/2012 (October 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012) the ThyssenKrupp Group’s orders from continuing operations (without Inoxum) increased by 2 percent to €21.7 billion, while sales, down 1 percent to €20.5 billion, were largely unchanged. Effects from the generally difficult market environment for materials were offset by increased contributions from practically all capital goods operations.
Adjusted EBIT decreased from €696 million in the prior-year period to €217 million. This reduction in earnings was mainly due to the generally weaker market environment and more intense competition in the materials sector. As expected, earnings in the first half 2011/2012 continued to be impacted by the startup losses at Steel Americas, though these were reduced both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. All other continuing operations delivered clearly positive earnings contributions. Overall, the ThyssenKrupp Group expects a moderate improvement in the second half of the fiscal year and adjusted EBIT for the full year in the mid three-digit million euro range.
