German retail giant Metro has posted better-than-expected results for the six months to June 30.


Group sales rose 7.1 per cent to €31.7 billion (£24.95 billion), up on Metro's 6 per cent growth target for the year.

EBITDA before special items increased 7.2 per cent at Metro to €1.1 billion (£865.6 million), while international sales climbed 11.1 per cent to €19.2 billion (£15.11 billion).

Metro's sales in Germany showed slower growth for the period, up 1.6 per cent to €12.5 billion (£9.84 billion).

Sales at the Western European arm of Metro – which referred to the UK as a “challenging market” – increased to 4.1 per cent to €9.8 billion (£7.71 billion).

Sales at Metro's Eastern European business climbed 20 per cent to €8.3 billion (£6.53 billion), while those of its Asian and African markets leaped 15.8 per cent to €1 billion (£786.95 billion).

Metro said: “We plan to rigorously continue our profitable growth course. Based on assessments of future economic developments, sector trends and the development of our sales divisions, we project a positive business development of Metro Group in 2008.”

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