The scrap recycling and environmental services division of French group Derichebourg recorded declining turnover and profits in the first half of the financial year 2012/13. While the division's turnover decreased 10 per cent to €1.060bn, operating earnings dropped to €10.8m, less than a third of the €35.5m posted one year ago.
Limited scrap metal availability resulting from the decrease in consumption in Western European countries led to increased competition among industry operators seeking to ensure feedstock for their processing plants. This had put margins under pressure, Derichebourg reported on Thursday when the half-year report for the period ended 31 March 2013 was published. The amount of scrap metals handled by the group was 6 per cent lower than one year before.