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Italy's Prysmian, leading energy and telecom cables and systems manufacturer, reported the first signs of market stabilisation in its third quarter 2009 results, with organic sales decline improved to -16% in Q3 (from -18.3% in H1) and adjusted ebitda margins stable at 10.7% (10.5% in H1). 9-month sales revenues were €2.78bn (compared to €3.95bn a year ago); EMEA region's organic sales (70.2% of total) were down 16% while N.America (9.7% of total) was down 43%. The strategic high voltage power transmission cables sector saw Q2's orders intake recovery confirmed in Q3, with order backlogs through 2010. The company is co-operating with anti-trust investigations into this sector in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, US and Japan.

Italian copper and copper alloy products manufacturer KME Group, which this year saw a 30% annual fall in its copper demand expects to see a recovery of about 10-15% in 2010. KME's output in the second half of this year should improve on the first half when it dropped 30% to 218,000 tonnes, but full-year production will still be down on 2008. Government incentives have lifted demand from automakers and KME has seen a boost in demand from solar panel makers; it has developed a copper roof with integrated panels which is being used in new construction projects in Italy.

Cable makers Prysmian SpA (of Italy) and Draka Holding N.V (Netherlands) both issued press releases on 10 September announcing the termination of discussions on a possible combination between the two companies (through a share for share cross-border statutory merger with Prysmian as surviving entity), after failure to reach an agreement on terms and conditions. Both companies had confirmed on 29 June this year that they were in preliminary talks to evaluate a merger, which would have created the largest cable company in the world.

Italy's non-ferrous metals association Assomet forecasts demand for copper and alloy semi-finished products in Italy will rise 4.7% to 936,600 tonnes in 2010, to give a partial recovery from this year's estimated 29% year-on-year fall to 894,200 tonnes. Customers have started to rebuild stocks after the crisis in the first half of this year when demand fell over 50% in some sectors. Output of copper and alloy semi-finished products is expected to rise to 968,300 tonnes in 2010, up from this year's estimated 923,600 tonnes but still below last year's 1,189,300 tonnes.

Prysmian SpA, the Italian cable maker, has announced consolidated sales results for Q1 2009. Sales amounted to EURO 926 million, a decrease of 11.5% compared with the same period in 2008. Net profit was EURO 91 million, down by 11.1% y-o-y. The company attributed this decline to the economic downturn, already evident in Q4 2008. In response to this, Prysmian is focusing on higher value-added activities and high-tech market segments. The company said that it managed to achieve satisfactory profits supported by the growth of sales in the sectors of high voltage underground and submarine cables along with industrial cables such as those for oil& gas, renewable energy and infrastructure.

KME Group SpA, a leading copper and copper alloy semis maker based in Italy, will buy 30% of Sigimet SpA, an Italian ferrous and non-ferrous metals trader. The company also bought 30% of Italian scrap metals trader Metalbuyer in February. In both cases, KME holds the option to raise its share. Considering that the company relies on scrap for more than 50% of its metal input, the acquisitions will lead to a reduction in supply costs. The company said that the acquisitions will benefit industrial activity, however, the main objective was diversification rather than integration.

Prysmian Cables & Systems said it expects its Chinese sales volumes to increase by 50% by 2010, an increase which has been aided by the opening of the company's fifth production plant in China. The company's sales increased by 16% year-on-year in 2007 and said that further growth opportunities were linked to the development of new infrastructure for energy and communications. Prysmian's new plant will be based in Tianjin and is expected to have an annual capacity of 10,000tpy including special cables for e.g. rail networks, mining and windfarms.

Prysmian S.p.A has announced its sales results for 2008. Sales amounted to Euro 5,144 million, exhibiting a 4.2% y-o-y organic growth. Adjusted EBITDA reached Euro 542 million, with a sales margin of 10.5% compared to 10.3% in 2007. Adjusted net income was Euro 332 million, up by 11% y-o-y. The group achieved strong performance in its utilities business, which grew by 12.1% y-o-y. This is attributed to positive performance of high voltage underground and submarine cables. The trade and installers business contracted by 5% due to the slowdown in the construction industry. Industrial cables exhibited organic growth of 5% mainly because of positive performance in the oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors.