Sime Darby Bhd has recorded a fall of 7.77 per cent in earnings during the first quarter till 30 September, 2012 mainly due to weak performance from its plantation and healthcare divisions.

The conglomerate recorded a fall in earnings to RM990.25 million from RM1.07 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. The group's revenues increased 6.94 per cent to RM11.83 billion compared to RM11.83 billion during same quarter of the previous year.

The earnings per share of the group fell to 16.48 sen from 17.87 sen during the quarter. Sime Darby has not announced any dividend for the quarter. The group said that all of its business units recorded improvement during the quarter except plantation and healthcare.

The plantation business declined 28 per cent while its healthcare business fell 20.6 per cent. The earnings form the plantation business declined mainly due to lower sales volume of crude palm oil and lower average price realized of RM2,707 per tonne compared to RM2,946 per tone recorded in the previous year.

The group's oil extraction rate was also lower at 21.6 per cent compared to 21.9 per cent recorded in the same quarter of the previous year.