Südzucker`s second-quarter earnings fall short of previous year`s exceptional results

Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt, Mannheim generated consolidated group revenues of Euro 4.046 bn (previous year: 3.917 bn) in the first six months of the current 2013/14 fiscal year (1 March to 31 August 2013). As forecast, consolidated group operating profit declined to Euro 425 m (previous year: 562 m) during the same period, although it was still one of the best half-year results in the company's history.

The sugar, special products and CropEnergies segments' profit fell sharply, while the fruit segment's operating profit rose strongly. Despite an ongoing strong investment program, the company was able to significantly cut its net financial debt by Euro 513 m to about EUR 303 m. Südzucker continues to forecast that consolidated group revenues for the current fiscal 2013/14 year will climb slightly to about Euro 8.0 bn (previous year: 7.9 bn) and that consolidated group operating profit will decrease significantly, to about Euro 825 m (previous year: 974 m).

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