Denmark: Cement equipment provider FLSmidth has reported that its second-quarter net profit for 2012 fell by 24% to Euro30m as increased costs and big write-downs outweighed growth in its revenue. Its profit in the same period in 2011 was Euro38.8m.

FLSmidth saw its revenue improve by 26% year-on-year, to Euro811m from Euro644m. Order intake also grew substantially by 20%, to Euro973m from Euro812m. As a result, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 32%, to Euro90m from Euro68.2m.

However, amortisation and write-downs of intangible assets jumped to Euro34.4m from Euro5.51m, which had a negative effect on overall profit. This negative item consisted mainly of a one-off Euro25.3m write-down of capitalised research and development costs.

FLSmidth registered strong order intake and earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) in all its segments except for Bulk Materials, which has been experiencing difficulties in project execution as a result of underestimated risks in connection with orders received in previous years. For its cement sector two major orders in the USA and the Middle East were received in the second quarter. The period saw a order intake rise by 47%, to Euro256m from Euro173m.