Vienna - Wienerberger AG, one of the world's largest brickmakers, released figures Thursday showing its operating profit fell by more than 50 per cent in 2008, as the building slump and restructuring weighed down results.

Wienerberger would "use further shutdowns to ensure that our plant network is able to meet the changes in markets and sales volumes," chief executive Wolfgang Reithofer said.

Since last summer, the brickmaker has already shut 27 plants in countries such as the United States, Britain and Germany. Restructuring costs amounted to 55 million euros.

Adjusted for restructuring costs and a one-off provision, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) dropped to 158 million euros (204 million dollars), from 353 million euros in the previous year.

Sales slipped by 2 per cent to 2.43 billion euros. However, in the fourth quarter, revenue dropped by 15 per cent to 503 million euros year-on-year, while EBIT plunged by
60 per cent to 27 million euros.

The financial crisis affected residential construction throughout Europe in 2008, finally reaching Central and Eastern Europe, where Wienerberger's revenue dropped by 10 per cent in the fourth quarter.

The preliminary financial results released by Wienerberger did not include net profit figures. (dpa)