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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.

Sumitomo Electric Industries' on 30 October reported sales in H1 (ended Sep) of fiscal 2009 were down 35% y/y at ¥812.3bn, and posted ¥9.7bn net loss (against ¥39.7bn profit a year ago) and ¥7.0bn operating loss (against ¥49.2bn profit). However the automobile business unit - main output automotive wiring harness - in Q2 posted ¥5.5bn operating profit against Q1's ¥8.6bn loss and forecasts ¥20.1bn operating profit in H2 (ended Mar'10). President Masayoshi Matsumoto said the firm expects improved profitability in fiscal 2010 though automobile demand could slow in April-June when automakers plan to reduce output by 20-30% from Jan-March.

General Cable, the US wire and cable maker, announced that its net income in Q3 2009 amounted to US$16.4 million compared with US$50.5 million in the same period last year. This is a 68% y-o-y plunge. Net sales in Q3 2009 added up to US$1.08 billion, down by 25% y-o-y on a metal adjusted basis. In the same period, operating income plummeted by 59% y-o-y to US$49.4 million. The company expects that in Q4 markets in developing regions will perform relatively better compared with developed regions. This is partly attributed to infrastructure projects and better credit conditions.

Nexans published its Q3 2009 sales figures and reported revenues of €1.27 billion (US$1.90 billion) compared to €1.69 billion (US$2.53 billion) in Q3 2008, a decline of 25%. At constant metal prices, sales in Q3 2009 amounted to €988 million (US$1.48 billion), which corresponds to a 19% organic decrease. For the nine months ending September 30 the company reported an organic fall in cable business sales of 17%, based on constant metal prices calculations. This compares with a 16% contraction experienced in H1 2009. Nexans said that lower building cable sales in Europe and Asia-Pacific as well as setbacks in the execution of high voltage contracts affected its sales figures. Energy cable revenues in Q3 were down by 13% y-o-y; those of telecom cables plunged by 19% y-o-y. In line with planned cutbacks in production capacity, electrical wire sales in Q3 were down by 35% y-o-y.

International Wire Group announced results for the second quarter ended 30 June 2009. Net sales for the quarter were US$102.0 million, compared to US$199.9 million for the same period in 2008. The decline was due to a lower copper price and decreased volume. Operating income for the second quarter was US$1.3 million compared to US$10.9 million. The lower income was attributed to lower sales volume in all business segments but was partially offset by operating cost reductions and lower selling and administrative expenses. Net loss was US$0.9 million, compared to net income of US$5.6 million.

Japanese electric wire and cable manufacturer Fujikura Ltd reported consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended 30 June 2009. The company achieved sales of ¥112.93b (US$1.19b) for the first quarter, 28.7% lower than the same period a year ago. Operating income for the first quarter was ¥1.84b (US$19.4m), 50.3% lower than the year-ago level. Net income for the same period was ¥111m (US$1.17m), 94.3% lower than a year ago. The company is expecting to make a net loss of ¥800m (US$8.43m) for the first half ending 30 September 2009.

Fujikura Dia Cable (FDC), the joint venture of Fujikura and Mitsubishi Cable Industries, announced a 14% year-on-year decline in their building cables shipment for the period April-September 2008. FDC describe the current situation as a difficult one, especially due to weak demand. The manufacturer, facing decreased inventory value due to falling copper prices, has to sell at relatively low prices reducing profit margins. FDC cable shipments fell by 8% in 2007 and the initial target for 2008 was to grow back to the 2006 level. However, this was revised down because of sales results. Overall profitability is also affected by rising prices of insulating and sheathing materials.

Japanese electric wire and cable manufacturer Fujikura Ltd reported consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended 30 June 2009. The company achieved sales of ¥112.93b (US$1.19b) for the first quarter, 28.7% lower than the same period a year ago. Operating income for the first quarter was ¥1.84b (US$19.4m), 50.3% lower than the year-ago level. Net income for the same period was ¥111m (US$1.17m), 94.3% lower than a year ago. The company is expecting to make a net loss of ¥800m (US$8.43m) for the first half ending 30 September 2009.

Furukawa Electric announced that in Q1 of fiscal year 2009 it suffered group net losses of Y3.51 billion (US$37.1 million) compared with profits of Y6.89 billion (US$72.7 million) in the same period of 2008. Revenues in Q1 FY2009 amounted to Y166.74 billion (US$1.76 billion) vs. Y287.04 billion (US$3.03 billion) realised in the same period of 2008. For H1 FY2009, the company is expecting to achieve group revenues of Y376.00 billion (US$3.97 billion) whilst for the full FY2009 Y807.00 billion (US$8.52 billion).

Ohio-based supplier of specialty copper alloy products Brush Engineered Materials Inc. reported second quarter results. Q2 2009 sales were US$174.1 million, 29% lower than the same period a year ago but an improvement of 29% from the first quarter this year. Net loss was US$0.8 million versus net income of US$7.2 million in Q2 2008. The Specialty Engineered Alloys segment reported Q2 sales of US$41.2 million, compared to sales of US$83.0 million the same period in 2008. Operating loss for Q2 was US$9.3 million compared to an operating profit of US$4.8 million a year ago. The decline in segment sales was primarily due to the effect of the severe global recession in key markets including telecommunications, computer, automotive electronics, oil and gas, aerospace and heavy equipment. A portion of the decline was due to lower metal prices. The company is foreseeing an improving order book and is expecting to generate a slight profit in Q3 this year with higher sales volume and positive impact from its cost-reduction activities.

KME Group announced that its copper and copper alloy semis output in Q1 2009 dropped by 28% y-o-y to 113,700t. The company attributed the sharp decline to weak demand due to the current gloomy economic conditions. The product segment that has been worst hit is that of brass rod used in plumbing fixtures. Consolidated sales revenues in Q1 2009 fell by 45% y-o-y to 459 million euros (US$626 million). For the three months to March 2009 KME Group suffered consolidated pre-tax losses of 12.7 million euros compared to profits of 7.5 million euros realised in Q1 2008.

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.

According to preliminary data announced by the Japanese Electric Wire and Cable Makers' Association, copper wire and cable offtake in March plunged by 25% y-o-y to 53,400t (estimated). February was a weaker month that fell by 32.7% y-o-y to 49,313t (confirmed). On a m-o-m basis, sales in March rose by 8.3%.

Nexans, the world's largest cable maker, has announced its sales results for Q1 2009. In the three months to March 31, sales amounted to 1.245 billion euros (US$1.61 billion), down by 28.5% compared with the same period in 2008 at constant metal prices. Net debt at the end of Q1 was reduced to 362 million euros (US$468 million) compared to 536 million euros (US$693 million) at the end of Q4 2008. The company said that in response to the economic crisis, it will accelerate restructuring and cut the workforce by 900. Nexans has restructured its business in Canada while it intends to shut down its Building Cable business in Germany. Further plans may be announced mainly in Europe.

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.

General Cable Corporation has announced its sales results for Q4 2008. In volume terms, sales in Q4 2008 contracted by 6.3% y-o-y. In the same period, operating income decreased by 17.8% y-o-y to US$76.4 million. The company attributed the decline in its operating income to weak demand in developed economies and lower capacity utilisation. Sales to Europe and North Africa contracted by 7.8% y-o-y, particularly due to lower demand and pricing for construction products in Spain, and weakening activity across Europe. In North America sales fell by 6.6% y-o-y, as the company experienced reduced demand for high metal content copper telecommunication and low voltage cables.

Mueller Industries, Inc. has announced its sales results for 2008. Net income in 2008 amounted to US$ 80.8 million, compared with US$ 115.5 million realised in 2007. Net income in Q4 2008 reached US$ 7.8 million compared to US$ 28.8 million in the same period in 2007. The company attributed the sharp contraction in its Q4 income mainly to weak shipments and the lower average cost of copper. The plumbing and refrigeration segment has been hit by slowing demand and higher per unit conversion costs on lower production volumes. In addition, European copper tube activities were interrupted for approximately four weeks due to a fire. In response to the ongoing economic crisis, the company's strategy for 2009 is to readjust operations and reduce costs.