Würth Reports EUR 4.9 Billion Sales for 1st Half of 2013

The Würth Group closed the first half of 2013 with total sales of EUR 4.9 billion. This corresponds to a year-over-year decrease of 3.0 percent, which can be attributed to the difficult economic environment in key markets such as Germany, especially in the first quarter of the year 2013. The long winter, for example, hindered sales growth in the strategically important construction sector. The unstable economic situation in Southern Europe is adding to this development, putting a drag on Würth's business for several years now. After adjusting for the Group's solar activities, which have been abandoned in the meantime, the overall decline in sales comes to 0.8 percent. The operating result was stabilized on the level of the previous year at EUR 205 million.

Robert Friedmann, Chairman of the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group, regards the situation as challenging, but is nonetheless optimistic for the second half of the year. "It cannot be denied that the general economic situation is working against us at the moment. Often this can be felt in lower total order values. However, the second quarter of 2013 is already pointing towards a recovery. Other leading indicators such as incoming orders in our electronics group or the development of our automotive businesses give us reason to expect stronger sales growth in the Würth Group over the next six months."