Swedish manufacturer Alfa Laval AB (OMX: ALFA), a manufacturer in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, reported full year sales of SEK 29.9 billion (US$4.6 billion), an increase of 4 percent compared to 2012. Profit decreased 6.3 percent to SEK 3 billion (US$459.7 million). 

Sales for the fourth quarter were SEK 8.6 billion (US$1.3 billion), an increase of 9 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Profit decreased 3.4 percent to SEK 871 million (US$133.5 million).

"Central and Eastern Europe showed strong growth, mainly driven by a broad based upturn in Russia," said Lars Renström, CEO of Alfa Laval AB. "North America had strong growth, mainly due to large orders within oil extraction and petro chemistry. In the Nordic countries it was large contracts for oil extraction in the North Sea that contributed to the good growth. China’s upturn continued, with a very good development within several areas, including marine and diesel.”