Stockholm - Swedish home appliance maker Electrolux recorded an increased pre-tax loss in the first-quarter of 2009, the group reported Wednesday, noting that most of its main markets declined in the first three months.

The group posted a pre-tax loss of 493 million kronor (57 million dollars), compared to a pre-tax loss of 149 million kronor in the corresponding business period 2008.

Net sales were up 6.7 per cent to 25.8 billion kronor.

The group said its results were impacted by restructuring charges of some 424 million kronor over reduced manufacturing capacity in Italy, Russia and China.

Unfavourable exchange rates also hit the results.

Electrolux said there were "no indications of an immediate improvement in any of the group's main markets" and that demand was "expected to decline further in 2009."

"The developments on the market are dramatic," chief executive Hans Straberg said in a statement, noting that the North American market has declined for 11 consecutive quarters.

"Even if the decrease is expected to continue in the coming quarters, we see some early signs that we are beginning to reach the bottom" in North America, he said.

In Europe, demand has dropped for five consecutive quarters and there was no sign of an immediate change, Straberg added.

In recent years, the group has moved production from plants in countries like Germany, Britain and Sweden to Poland, and from the US to Mexico. (dpa)

Electrolux had some 53,600 employees at the end of March 2009.