In the first quarter of 2014 entities operated at profit. Companies made a profit of LTL 2.2 billion (EUR 637 million) which is by 14% more year-on-year but by 16% less than in the fourth quarter of 2013.
The highest earning entities were retail companies, they made a profit of LTL 355.5 million (EUR 102.9 million). Second most profitable where electricity, gas and steam supply companies, they earned LTL 352.3 million (EUR million 102.0).
Compared with the same period of 2013, profit grew the fastest (about three times) among basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations manufacturing entities.
Meanwhile, companies engaged in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles suffered the sharpest drop in profits, almost twofold.
Even though in the first quarter of 2013 construction companies operated at a loss, in the first quarter of 2014 they earned a profit of around LTL 66 million (EUR 19.1 million).
Average profitability was 4.2%, by 0.6% more year-on-year. Most profitable were basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations manufacturing companies (52.1%).
62.2% of businesses were operating at profit in the first quarter of 2014, by 3.6 more year-on-year.
