Compared to the second quarter of 2015, earnings and free cash flow significantly improved, mainly driven by high activity levels in the quarter and higher average project margins. Satisfactory order intake with backlog remaining at high levels. Outlook for 2016 upgraded.

In the second quarter of 2016, Vestas generated revenue of EUR 2,557m – an increase of 46 percent compared to the year-earlier period. EBIT before special items increased by EUR 254m to EUR 399m. The EBIT margin before special items was 15.6 percent compared to 8.3 percent in the second quarter of 2015 and the free cash flow amounted to EUR 330m compared to EUR 183m in the second quarter of 2015.

The intake of firm and unconditional wind turbine orders amounted to 1,790 MW in the second quarter of 2016. The value of the wind turbine order backlog amounted to EUR 8.2bn at 30 June 2016. In addition to the wind turbine order backlog, Vestas had service agreements with contractual future revenue of EUR 9.9bn at the end of June 2016. Thus, the value of the combined backlog of wind turbine orders and service agreements stood at EUR 18.1bn – an increase of EUR 1.2bn compared to the year-earlier period.

Vestas upgrades the 2016 guidance on revenue from minimum EUR 9.0bn to minimum EUR 9.5bn, EBIT margin before special items from minimum 11.0 percent to minimum 12.5 percent, and free cash flow from minimum EUR 600m to minimum EUR 800m (incl. the acquisition of Availon Holding GmbH). The upgrade is based on better than expected performance in the first half of 2016 and visibility for the remainder of the year.