Bobst optimistic for 2013

- Asia strong, as impact of Europe and the Americas on sales shrinks

 

-  Anticipating sales in the region of CHF1.2-1.26 billion in 2013

 

Bobst said its 2012 full-year results met its expectations, and an improved order backlog in the early part of 2013 allows it to anticipate good utilization rates for its production capacities for the first few months of the year.

 

In 2012, consolidated sales achieved nearly the same level as in 2011 and came to CHF1.26 billion (€1.03 billion), a drop of 0.5 percent.

 

Sales in the second half of 2012 reached CHF731 million (€594 million) compared with CHF533 million (€433 million) for the first half of 2012.

 

By region, Bobst said it recorded accelerated growth in Asia and Oceania, with these markets now representing 25.2 percent of total sales.

 

Europe suffered mainly due to the sovereign debt crisis and contributed 45.1 percent to the total sales volume, down from 47.3 percent in the previous year, while the Americas contributed 26.7 percent, a decrease from 28.3 percent in 2011.

 

By segment, sheet-fed and web-fed product sales declined, although the sheet-fed drop was more prominent at 2.4 percent compared to the 0.5 percent decline in web-fed sales.

 

Bobst said sales of sheet-fed products declined primarily due to lower activity in the folding carton sector, while corrugated remained strong.

 

Sales of web-fed products remained at good level as in 2011. Lower sales in Europe and the Americas were compensated by an increase in Asia.

 

Services sales grew 3.2 percent across the whole of 2012, reflecting improved competitiveness according to Bobst.

 

For the year ahead, Bobst said improved order backlog, coupled with the group’s strategy, means consolidated net profit will be close to 2012.

 

It is anticipating  good utilization of production capacities for the first months of the year, and at the present level of order intake and exchange rates, should reach sales in the region of CHF1.2-1.26 billion in 2013.

 

Read more on Bobst here

Read more about press technology here

Read more news from across Europe here

Read more news from North America here

Read more news from the Asia-Pacific region here