Carr's Milling Interim Management Statement

Carr's Milling Industries, the agriculture, food and engineering group, says in it's interim management statement released today that it is on-track to achieve market expectations for the full year, which are of an appreciably lower figure than last year's.

This is despite difficult markets for fertiliser (where trading conditions are as adverse this year as they were favourable last year) and animal feed, compensated for by a strong performance in food, the retailing of agricultural machinery and supplies, and fuel oil distribution, they say.

Revenue and profit from compound and blended feed are well below last year's levels, as a result of substantial reductions in demand, driven principally by lower livestock numbers and cheaper home-grown cereals being utilised as feed, following a record harvest, they add.

For fertiliser, they report "very substantial reduction in demand" with revenue for the year to date down by a smaller percentage than volumes, at 23%.

No great surprises in that lot, you can replace the word Carr's with that of just about every other major player in the country.