Belet posted sales of KC102 million (USD3.2 million) for the three quarters to September, down 17 percent from the same period in 2001.

Gross profit fell 44 percent to KC3 million (USD95,775) from KC5.3 million (USD169,200) in 2001, according to a CTK Business News report.

Belet economic director Petr Nuslauer said the sales fall was due mainly to floods which ravaged parts of Europe in August, which saw third-quarter sales slump by one third on the same quarter last year.

"In September, we saw interest in our production rise again, by 40 percent (compared to) August, and the same trend is continuing (this month)," he said.

The company employed 100 staff as at September 30. Exports represent 46 percent of Belet's total output, with the biggest importers being Italy, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Great Britain, the USA and Ukraine.