DGAP-News

BayWa AG up slightly on the previous year after nine months - Seite 2

improve again next year." As an example, he cited rising producer prices
for dairy and meat in Germany, which stand to revive demand for operating
resources and agricultural equipment. The sale of grain and oilseed is also
increasing once more. In connection with the positive development at the
moment concerning the availability of goods, national trading in 2017
promises to have a solid basis from which to start, Lutz explained. In
international agricultural trade, BayWa seeks to enhance profitability
within its own trade network and leverage opportunities through further
market consolidation.

International fruit business continues to strengthen the Agriculture
Segment
The Agriculture Segment comprises national and international trade in
agricultural operating resources and produce as well as the Agricultural
Equipment and Fruit business units. The Agriculture Segment recorded a rise
in revenues after the first nine months of the current year, which was due
to the significant increase in produce trading volume, among other factors.
As a result, 26 percent more grain and oilseed was traded in a year-on-year
comparison, primarily through international trading activities.

International fruit trading also made a significant contribution to the
rise in revenues. The fruit business benefited from TFC Holland B.V.,
included in the scope of consolidation for the first time, and its trading
activities in tropical fruits, as well as higher export volumes of New
Zealand company T&G Global Limited to Asia in particular. As it was
possible to achieve price increases during the marketing season in the
southern hemisphere, EBIT for the Fruit business unit as at 30 September
2016 also rose in a year-on-year comparison.
Despite the strong result that fruit delivered, the Agriculture Segment as
a whole after the first nine months fell short of the previous year's level
due to the difficult developments outlined in agricultural trade and the
expected decline in the agricultural equipment business.

Conventional and renewable energy on track for success
The Energy Segment comprises the BayWa Group's trading activities in fossil
and renewable heating fuels, fuels and lubricants, as well as its business
in renewable energies, which is pooled in BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH.
As at 30 September 2016, the Energy Segment was able to significantly
expand its year-on-year lead. This was due to an improvement in profit
margins in the heating oil trade and increased fuel sales, among other
factors. Higher wood pellet sales also compensated for the decline in