PureCircle Limited announced trading results for the first half ended December 31, 2015. Sales in the first half of 2016 are expected to be not less than USD 54 million, an increase of 25% against first half of 2015 of USD 43 million.

The company expected group earnings guidance for the first half of 2016. There has been growth in sales across all global sales regions and across all ingredients as innovation continues to unlock new Food and Beverage adoption of stevia and support continued roll-outs of products already launched. The group expects gross margin, EBITDA and net result all to increase significantly compared to first half of 2015. Group gross margin is expected to be not less than USD 22 million, an increase of 52% against USD 14 million in first half of 2015. The improvement in gross margin principally reflects higher sales volumes, increasing contributions from expanding portfolio of innovative new products and more stable leaf supply. EBITDA is expected to be not less than USD 13 million, an increase of USD 7 million or 105% against first half 2015 of USD 6 million, reflecting the benefit of higher sales volumes and improving margins. The group's net result for first half 2016 is expected to be a net profit of approximately USD 5 million, an improvement of almost USD 6 million against first half 2015 with loss of USD 0.9 million. A net profit of USD 5 million would represent earnings per share of USD 0.03 per share. The group ended first half of 2016 with net debt of USD 46 million against USD 52 million for the first half of 2015.