The Bühler Technology Group, a petfood production technologies company, announced its financial results for fiscal 2012, increasing order intake by 5 percent and turnover by 13 percent thanks to acquisitions.
Order intake rose most in the company’s Grain Processing and Food Processing divisions. Geographically, orders in Europe fell 12 percent, while North America’s orders increased 44 percent, orders from China increased 13 percent, and orders from the Middle East/Africa rose 7 percent. For the first time, orders from emerging countries exceed more than 50 percent of Bühler’s total volume.
Sales revenue in fiscal 2012 rose by 13 percent to CHF 2,409 million (US$2.65 billion), and when adjusted for acquisitions, it exceeded the value of fiscal 2011 by 5 percent. The sharpest rise in sales was achieved by the Advanced Materials division (47 percent) and was mainly driven by acquisitions, while the Grain Processing division’s sales grew organically by 7 percent and Food Processing division fell 3 percent below the value in 2011.
The company’s EBIT margin declined to 7.3 percent from fiscal 2011. Net profit in fiscal 2012 of CHF 161 million (US$177.25 million) remained at the same level as in fiscal 2011. For the current fiscal year 2013, Bühler expects sales revenues at the same level as 2012 and a return to a double-digit EBIT margin.
For 2013, Bühler’s turnover is expected to nearly reach the same level as fiscal 2012. Emerging economies will become the company’s main drivers of sales revenue and earnings.