ITALY (Notifix).- Leading Italian woodworking machinery manufacturer Biesse was able to record a profit, in a very difficult market scenario, of EUR 1.1 million in first half 2013, compared to EUR -3.3 million in same period last year. 

While sales for the first half of 2013 fell 6.2% to EUR 180.2 million against EUR 192.1 million in the first half of 2012. The geographical breakdown of consolidated revenues confirms the gradual downsizing in importance of Western Europe (37.4% against 43.2% in June 2012), which compares with the growing share of Eastern Europe (18.4% compared to 17.9%) and of the Asia/Pacific area (20% compared to 18%).

The efficient performance in cost management led to an EBITDA improvement of 23.4% reaching EUR 11.6 million (2012: EUR 9.4 million).