NEU-ISENBURG (dpa-AFX) - The commercial vehicle supplier Jost Werke has closed the past year with a higher operating profit despite declining sales. Based on preliminary figures, revenue fell by 1.2 percent to around 1.25 billion euros, mainly due to exchange rate effects. Adjusted for currency and takeover effects, however, turnover remained at the previous year's level, the SDax-listed company announced in Neu-Isenburg on Tuesday. Jost Werke compensated for the weak demand from the agricultural sector with the sale of products from the transportation sector. Analysts had expected sales to be around this level.

Thanks to efficiency measures, earnings before interest and taxes adjusted for special effects rose at an above-average rate. Compared to the previous year, operating profit climbed by 13.7 percent to 140.8 million euros. Jost Werke thus exceeded both its own targets and analysts' expectations.

The Management Board intends to announce the final figures and a dividend proposal for the past year on March 26. Jost Werke will then also provide an initial outlook for the current year./ngu/stk