Italian ultrasound vendor Esaote reported positive results for the first six months of 2012 (end-June 30), saying that international sales more than offset dismal results in the European market.
The sales slump in the Italian market, which decreased 16% compared with the same period last year, as well as difficulties in the European market, which dropped 0.7% compared with the same period last year, were offset by 17.4% growth in international sales. In fact, international sales in the first six months of 2012 totaled 70% of all sales, Esaote said.
The company said it was able to improve profitability by carrying out an action plan to improve efficiency, though profit figures were not released. Continuing R&D investments totaling 8% of all sales in the first half of the year leave the firm with several highly competitive ultrasound, MR, and healthcare IT products in its lineup, according to Esaote.