Sales amounted to 1,463.5 million âĴ in the third quarter of 2014 and were thus below the level of the previous yearʼs reference period (Q3 2013: 1,534.5 million âĴ); the decline of 4.6% is mainly due to a project-related drop in sales in the Pulp & Paper and the Metals business areas. In the first three quarters of 2014, sales of the Group amounted to 4,122.9 million âĴ and thus practically reached last yearʼs reference figure (-0.5% versus Q1-Q3 2013: 4,144.6 million âĴ).
As of September 30, 2014, the order backlog amounted to 7,702.2 million âĴ â an increase of 4.2% compared to the end of 2013 (December 31, 2013: 7,388.5 million âĴ).
In the third quarter of 2014, the EBITA amounted to 101.0 million âĴ and was thus 44.1% higher than the low level of the previous yearʼs reference period (Q3 2013: 70.1 million âĴ), which was impacted negatively by additional costs in the Pulp & Paper and the Seperation business areas. The Groupʼs EBITA margin also increased substantially to 6.9% (Q3 2013: 4.6%). In the first three quarters of 2014, the EBITA amounted to 234.4 million âĴ (+40.4% versus Q1-Q3 2013: 167.0 million âĴ) and the EBITA margin was 5.7% (Q1-Q3 2013: 4.0%).
The net income of the Group in the first three quarters of 2014 amounted to 123.6 million âĴ and was thus significantly higher than the previous yearʼs reference value (Q1-Q3 2013: 78.8 million âĴ).