Naturex has reported its financial results for the first nine months of fiscal 2013.
At constant exchange rates, sales rose 10.9% with 8.6% in organic growth. However, foreign exchange trends had a negative impact in the period, particularly in the 2013 third quarter, reflecting the depreciation of several currencies versus the euro including the US and Australian dollars and emerging country currencies including Brazil, Mexico, China, Russia, and India. On that basis, third-quarter sales at constant exchange rates rose 6% in relation to particularly strong sales in the same quarter in 2012.
Food & Beverage sales for the 9-month period were up 1.6% at constant exchange rates. Despite a high comparison base from the 2012 third quarter, the company said that sales performance in this market were positive particularly in fruit and vegetable powders range where growth offset the slowdown of the distribution activity in Australia.
Naturex’s Nutrition & Health business, largely focused on the US market, maintained strong growth with sales up 27.3% at constant exchange rates. In the 2013 third quarter, the NAT activ range was said to have performed well while the NAT life range of extracts was strengthened by cranberry extracts originating from the DBS acquisition.
All geographic regions were said to have delivered good growth, both in mature markets still affected by a difficult economic environment in Europe, and emerging markets with continuing momentum that accounted for 17.9% of sales for the 2013 nine-month period and 21.1% for the 2013 third-quarter.
"Since the year's start we have achieved excellent gains for sales in each region where we operate, despite uncertainties linked to the global economic environment,” said Naturex's chairman-CEO, Thierry Lambert. “In line with expectations, due to adverse effects of trends for certain currencies and a less favourable comparison base, the pace of expansion in the 2013 third quarter was slightly less sustained than in the first half. With growth prospects driven by our focus on scientific innovation and the dynamism of our sales network, combined with a selective acquisition strategy, we can look to the future with confidence."
