RADCLIFFE-based James Halstead’s forthcoming half-year results are predicted to be in line with forecasts despite a previously anticipated trading dip in December.

That’s the thrust of a trading update which has been released by the commercial flooring manufacturer and international distributor, which has its head office in Hollinhust Road, Radcliffe, while its flagship Polyflor manufacturing plant is located in Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield.

The update comes ahead of the company’s interim results for the half-year to December 30, 2013, which will be released later this year.

Towards the end of last year, in his annual general meeting trading update, chairman Geoffrey Halstead noted that he was pleased to be able to report growth in turnover, albeit modest, in both the UK and in overseas markets. Additionally, Central Europe and in particular France were continuing to grow with Australia and New Zealand on a par with last year.

The trading update continued: “However, Mr Halstead did also give a word of caution that December is always an unpredictable month, and in the event December was not a good month with many of our major markets trading below the same month the previous year against a trend of consistent positive results.

“Nevertheless, revenue for the six months to December, 2013, was two per cent ahead of the previous year. Taking the above into consideration, it is expected that profit before tax will be in line with forecasts and around three-four per cent below the record prior year interim profit.”

Last October, Halstead’s results posted for the year ending June 30, 2013, showed that revenue dropped 4.1 per cent while pre-tax profits also fell. But that was tempered by the fact that turnover in the UK was 3.5 per cent ahead of the previous year. The group’s buoyant home performance was due to a solid year enjoyed by its Polyflor plant and its Riverside flooring plant in Teeside.