FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German truck maker Traton <8TRA.DE> warned that its order intake had fallen in the first half, even as its operating profit rose 25% on the back of a rise in sales at Scania and a recovery in key markets like Brazil.
Traton said its first half earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to 1.07 billion euros (£962.79 million), up from 863 million euros in the year-earlier period and the company’s operating return on sales had improved to 7.9% from 6.8%.
The truck and bus maker said vehicle sales rose 10% in the first half, but said order intake had fallen 6% compared with the year-earlier period.
“We are keeping a very watchful eye on developments in the market in order to adjust our production with flexibility,” Traton Chief Executive Andreas Renschler said in a statement.
The company made its stock market debut in June after parent Volkswagen <VOWG_p.DE> floated an 11.5% stake in the unit to give the truck maker greater independence to pursue growth.
(Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Michelle Martin)
