LEOBEN, AUSTRIA – AT&S posted fiscal first-half 2013 sales of about EUR 255 million, up 5.4% compared to the same period last year.

EBITDA amounted to EUR 43.9 million, down 8% year-over-year.

The printed circuit board fabricator said demand rose for industrial and automotive products, and although its Shanghai plant wasn't running at full capacity until mid-August, mobile devices also reported a year-on-year rise in revenues for the period.

Group earnings fell short of internal expectations. Solid demand from industrial and automotive customers in combination with product launches in mobile devices in August had a positive impact on the group's overall performance.

“The decline in earnings is attributable to a combination of increased depreciation and capacity underutilization at mobile devices during the summer months," said AT&S CEO Andreas Gerstenmayer. "Given favorable demand in the run-up to Christmas, I expect that we will see continued improvements in revenue in the third quarter. Fourth-quarter earnings will depend on scheduled product ramp-ups for a number of important customers."

AT&S added it has achieved EN9100 and AS9100 certifications.

Ed.: EUR 1 = US$1.3051