Oct 13, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. The first half of 2010 shows consolidated revenues of Euro 1,154 million (Euro 1,024 million in the first half of 2009, +12.7%) and an EBITDA of about Euro 82 million (Euro 72 million in the corresponding period of 2009, +14.9%), Burgo Group said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. The pre-tax profit is Euro 6.3 million against a loss of Euro 15 million in the corresponding period of 2009. Revenues from paper sales recorded an increase of 6.8%, determined by a good volume performance (+13.3%) despite a decrease of -5.7% in the average selling price of the various types of paper. The percentage of operating costs on sales remained substantially stable as a result of the benefits arising from rationalisation and optimisation projects which enabled the Burgo Group to counter the sharp and volatile rise in the price of raw materials. The positive industrial performance of 2009 and the early months of 2010, together with sound cash management, enabled the Burgo Group to reduce net financial borrowing by about Euro 76 million in the period June 2009 - June 2010, without recourse to extraordinary operations. For 2010, the forecast of an EBITDA of around Euro 160 million, slightly down with respect to 2009, is confirmed, though in the context of a significant increase in the prices and volatility of raw materials. The EBITDA should, however, benefit from some recovery in prices and, above all, volumes.