Compared to the first eight months of 2011, sales grew from CHF2603 million to CHF2786 million.
While Hilti maintained good growth dynamics in most markets, Europe saw increasingly mixed development, the company reported. While there was consistent upper-single-digit growth in Central and Northern Europe, sales declined in Southern Europe where the effects of the debt crisis are sharply felt. Overall, Hilti’s Europe Region posted a slight sales increase of 1% in local currencies. Strong growth was recorded in Latin America (+38%) while North America also generated a significant growth level, with sales advancing 17%. The regions of Asia/Pacific and Eastern Europe / Middle East / Africa each posted double-digit growth of 11%.
“The good intermediate results confirm that the steps we have taken to improve efficiency and profitability were the right ones. We were also able to maintain the overall positive growth dynamic despite the fact that several important markets remain in a difficult position,” said Hilti CEO Bo Risberg. “Nonetheless, we have not yet reached our goal. The economic environment will remain volatile and it’s important that we continue to concentrate on profitability in the future and that our investments be made selectively and in profitable growth segments.”