Gurit’s business unit Composite Materials achieved net sales of CHF 136.0 million in the first half of 2016 (1HY 2015: CHF 136.6 million), a decrease -0.4% in reported Swiss francs. Wind energy material demand saw a sales contraction of - -2.7% in reported Swiss francs.
Despite growth in most other global wind energy regions, the anticipated weaker demand in the Chinese wind energy industry of some 15% compared to the record year 2015 had its overall negative impact on the Company due to its high importance for Gurit. In Tooling, sales of wind turbine blade moulds and related equipment in the first six months of 2016 increased by 44.3% to CHF 36.8 million (1HY 2015: CHF 26.3 million). International customer demand for mould systems was much stronger than anticipated in the first six months of 2016, and Chinese mould demand for longer blades held up stronger than expected, as well.
