Strong pet product sales boost Dechra

23rd Feb 2010 07:54

Veterinary products group Dechra Pharmaceuticals reported a rise in profits in the six months to December 31 as it continued growing sales in spite of the economic downturn.Pre-tax profits rose to £9.7m from £7.3m on revenues that climbed to £184.8m from £173.2m.The main part of the business, services, whose operations include pet insurance and foods as well as medicines, saw revenues rise to £144.3m from £137.8m.Revenues from European pharmaceuticals climbed to £41.3m from £38.4m, while US pharmaceuticals revenues climbed to £5.3m from £3.1m.'Despite the continued economic uncertainty, there were indications of volume growth starting to return to the market towards the end of the reporting period,' Dechra said.Dechra will pay an interim dividend of 3.3p a share, up from 3p at the half year stage last year.