Rieter, a leading textile machinery supplier in the field of fibre processing, has achieved double-digit sales growth with a particularly strong performance in the second half of the year, due to its successful products and extended presence in Asia.

The company’s sales increased by 11% to 1153.4 million CHF. Orders received reached the level of sales in the year under review, at 1146.1 million CHF. Rieter had a backlog of orders in hand of around 730 million CHF at the end of 2014.

This means a high level of capacity utilisation until well into the 2015 financial year. Rieter will publish its full annual financial statements and the annual report for 2014 on 18 March 2015.

Positive trend

In the market for short-staple fibre machinery and components, the positive trend of the previous year continued, albeit with the different characteristics of the individual economic regions, the company reports.

Overall, demand was above the average of previous years, although momentum slowed in some important markets in the second half of the year.

Rieter took full advantage of the trend in the flourishing countries and significantly increased sales compared to 2013, thereby benefiting from the significant strategic investments in China and India in previous years.

Orders received

New orders received by the Rieter Group reached the level of sales in 2014. Compared to the strong previous year, orders received decreased by 9% to 1 146.1 million CHF. A large number of orders came from Asian countries, where spinning mill capacities were built up to supply the Chinese textile markets, from Turkey and the US.

The positive trend in India continued throughout the year under review. In China demand was subdued, as in the previous year. In the favourable market environment of the first half of the year, Rieter recorded significantly higher order intake than in the more challenging second half.

Sales

As expected, sales by Rieter developed strongly in the year under review and increased by 11% to 1 153.4 million CHF. In the second half of the year, sales increased by 21% compared to the first half. Rieter reported the highest increase in the US, followed by Turkey, India and various Asian countries. In contrast, sales in China and Africa decreased compared to the previous year.

Spun Yarn Systems increased sales by 14% to 980.9 million CHF. Premium Textile Components posted sales to third parties of 172.4 million CHF. Segment sales, including deliveries to Spun Yarn Systems, increased by 1% to 262.1million CHF. Significantly supported by its extended capacities in Asia, Rieter achieved a record output of spindle equivalents.

www.rieter.com