煙草在線據聯盟新聞報道編譯　　工程與服務公司莫林斯公司8月28日表示上半年轉贏為虧，雖然中東和東歐的不利市場狀況影響了其煙草機械部門的業績，但公司表現大致符合管理層預期。

　　公司股價下跌18%，至131.10便士，為52周來的新低。

　　位于密爾頓凱因斯的莫林斯公司發布截止6月30日公司稅前損失10萬英鎊，相比于去年同期的盈利為70萬英鎊，收入從4780萬英鎊下滑至4000萬英鎊。

　　莫林斯公司表示公司上半年的表現基本與內部預期相符。

　　但是，公司表示其為煙草業提供的設計、生產、市場及服務業務的銷售額從去年同期的1800萬英鎊下滑至1000萬英鎊。

　　莫林斯公司表示煙草機械部門的結果反映了一些主要市場中的不利市場環境，這些市場出現了訂單需求和售后活動減少的情況。特別是中東和東歐的兩個大訂單交貨期均延遲了。

　　另一方面，科技服務部門銷售額從同期的1140萬英鎊增長至1170萬英鎊。該部門為煙草和其它產業部門開發、供應和維護工藝以及質量控制的設備和機器。

　　“工藝和質量控制設備和機器的銷售增長，在我們的主要市場中對質量控制儀器的需求保持強勁，而且對卷煙煙霧捕捉機器的需求提前，”莫林斯公司表示。

　　同時，以當地貨幣計算，包裝機械的銷售額增長9%，但受到英鎊走強的影響，導致按英鎊計算，略有減少，從1840萬英鎊減至1830萬英鎊。該部門通過在英國、荷蘭、加拿大和新加坡的工廠提供工程技術服務和資產設備。

　　正如在上一年度，莫林斯曾表示全年業績將明顯受到下半年業績影響。

　　“董事會對英鎊走強和當前煙草機械部門的市場狀況印象深刻，”行政長官迪克·亨特在一份聲明中說：“科技服務和包裝機械部門的前景依然令人鼓舞?！?/p>

　　鑒于公司的困境，莫林斯維持其中期股息每股2.5便士不變。

Molins Swings To Loss As Tobacco Machinery Sales Hurt By Order Delays

　　Engineering and services company Molins PLC Thursday said it swung to a loss in the first half, a performance which was broadly in line with management expectations, although market conditions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe adversely impacted its tobacco machinery division.

　　The stock was quoted down 18% at 131.10 pence, a new 52-week low.

　　Milton Keynes-based Molins posted a pretax loss of GBP100,000 for the six months to June 30, compared with a GHBP700,000 profit a year earlier, as revenue slipped to GBP40.0 million from GBP47.8 million.

　　Molins said its performance in the first half was broadly in line with internal expectations.

　　However, it said sales from its business that designs, manufactures, markets and services specialist machinery for the tobacco industry dropped to GBP10.0 million from GBP18.0 million a year earlier.

　　Molins said the tobacco machinery results reflect adverse market conditions in some of its main markets, with the division experiencing reduced order demand and aftermarket activity. In particular two large orders to the Middle East and eastern Europe, which had been expected to have been delivered in the period, were deferred.

　　On the other hand, the scientific services division saw sales increase to GBP11.7 million from GBP11.4 million. The division develops, supplies and supports process and quality-control instruments and machinery for the tobacco industry and other industrial sectors.

　　"Sales of process and quality control instruments and machinery grew, with demand remaining strong for quality-control instruments in our major markets and demand for cigarette smoke capture machines ahead of the prior period," Molins said.

　　Meanwhile, sales at the packaging machinery business grew 9% in local currency, but were impacted by the strength of sterling, resulting in a marginal reduction in sterling terms to GBP18.3 million from GBP18.4 million. The division supplies engineering services and capital equipment through its operations in the UK, the Netherlands, Canada and Singapore.

　　As in previous year, Molins said its full-year trading performance will be significantly weighted towards the second half.

　　"The board is mindful of the strength of sterling and current market conditions for the tobacco machinery division," Chief Executive Dick Hunter said in a statement. "The prospects for the scientific services and packaging machinery divisions continue to be encouraging."

　　In light of its woes, Molins left its interim dividend unchanged at 2.5 pence per share. Enditem