Eurocopter registers record sales for 2007

Eurocopter, the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, said that it has achieved an all time high in sales for 2007, surpassing even its record for 2006. It said that it had also strengthened its worldwide industrial footprint by setting up additional subsidiaries in key markets.

For 2007, Eurocopter once again secured its position as the world's top manufacturer of helicopters with a total of 488 deliveries for new military and civil helicopters. The company has reported a consolidated turnover exceeding 4 billion euros.

Order backlogs by the end of December 2007 stood at 802 new aircraft, a new record high, exceeding 13 billion euros in value.

A company statement said that 56 per cent of the company's turnover in 2007 was related to serial helicopters (equalling 2.34 billion Euros), 33 per cent (1.39 billion Euros) came from customer services, whereas 11 per cent (0.44 billion Euros) were realized by means of development and other activities.

While 51 per cent of the turnover derived from civil and para-public sales, 49 per cent was related to Eurocopter's military products.

The export share is 68 per cent, proving Eurocopter's successful strategy of expanding its activities to emerging markets.