Wienerberger AG recently announced a year-on-year increase of 2% in revenues to €773.4 million (~ $1,043 million) for the third quarter of 2013. This positive development was reportedly supported by higher earnings in the western European and U.S. brick activities, and in the eastern European pipe business. Third quarter results for the company’s divisions show an increase of 2% in revenues to €412.9 million (~ $556 million) for the Bricks & Tiles Europe Division and 3% higher operating EBITDA of €67.8 million (~ $90 million).

Business development was reportedly negatively influenced by severe weather and difficult markets. In the Bricks & Tiles Europe Division, the weather-related weak start to 2013 was followed by stabilizing demand that was in line with expectations during the third quarter. However, the positive development in the third quarter of 2013 was unable to offset the initial downturn in revenues and earnings. The Bricks & Tiles Europe Division thus recorded a 5% year-on-year decline in revenues to €1,065.4 million (~ $1,437 million) for the first nine months of 2013.

“In a very difficult market environment—construction in a number of our key markets is now lower than the crisis year 2009—we were able to improve earnings during the third quarter,” said Heimo Scheuch, CEO. “The Bricks & Tiles Europe Division recorded higher volumes in all product groups during this period. Cost savings and price adjustments to cover cost inflation supported revenue and earnings growth in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe, we used our cost advantages in the form of proactive pricing to gain market shares. We also generated growth in the Pipes & Pavers Division.”

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