The Italian-based rebar producer Feralpi Group has announced its financial figures for FY 2008. Accordingly, in 2008 Feralpi's sales turnover increased by 23.8 percent compared to 2007, rising to €1.579 billion. The company's balance sheet posted decreases in net profit and gross operating margin: the 2008 net profit was €67.2 million, down from €102.3 million in 2007. In addition, gross operating margin in 2008 was €152.7 down from €153.7 million in 2007, with a ROE (Return on Equity) percentage of 24.2.
In 2008 Feralpi Group produced 2.589 million mt of steel products, increasing its production by 7.3 percent compared to 2007. In particular, the group's volume of finished rolled products amounted to 2.46 million mt in 2008, up 2.9 percent compared to 2007 while the quantity of cold rolled products decreased by 4.2 percent year on year to 621,000 mt.
Feralpi Group chairman Giuseppe Pasini commented, "If we consider deliveries and shipments we can see how Feralpi is becoming even more oriented towards the foreign markets: our turnover is composed 56 percent of deals made outside Italy with revenues reaching €884 million, while domestic turnover stands at €692 million." Moreover, Mr. Pasini concluded, "Despite the sluggish economy in Q4, 2008 is to be considered a good year."
In 2008 Feralpi Group acquired DE.FI.M SpA, a company specialized in welded mesh production for industry. The name of the company was subsequently changed to Nuova Defim, which is now a subsidiary of Feralpi Siderurgica SpA.
Also in 2008, in Riesa, Germany, Gruppo Feralpi founded Feralpi-Logistik GmbH, a shipment and linking company which provides a commercial bridge between Feralpi's production sites in Germany and its European customers.