Slovenia's Petrol Jan-Sept profit up by 14 pct (updated)

Petrol dd Ljubljana

16/11/2018 07:37

(Updates with quote, details)
    LJUBLJANA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Slovenia's largest fuel
retailer Petrol  PETG.LJ  made a group net profit of 68.8
million euros ($78 million) in the first nine months of 2018, 14
percent higher than in the same period last year, Petrol said on
Friday.
    It added sales rose to 3.9 billion euros compared to 3.3
billion a year ago.
    "In Slovenia and Croatia the economic situation is
improving, but other South European countries, which are also
Petrol's markets, still face demanding economic conditions, low
purchasing power and high unemployment," Petrol said in a
statement.
    Petrol operates some 495 filling stations in Slovenia,
Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo.
    Motor fuel sales were up by 3 percent year-on-year, Petrol
said, adding sales of merchandise like automotive products, food
and tobacco were up by 11 percent.
    ($1 = 0.8819 euros)

 (Reporting By Marja Novak; editing by David Evans)
 ((Marja.Novak@thomsonreuters.com; +386-1-5058805, Reuters
Messaging: marja.novak.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))