German do-it-yourself chain of stores Praktiker said its operations in Bulgaria and Romania have reported the highest growth rates within its chain, based on performance in each country of operation, in the first nine months of the year, the Bulgarian office told Dnevnik business daily.

Revenues in Bulgaria, in particular, rose 78 per cent on the year to 48.3 million euros in the first nine months of the year.

Romanian operations, for its part, brought 181.9 million euros in revenues in what is a 71.1 per cent year-on-year increase.

Despite the spurt in international sales, the consolidated performance of the group continues to decrease. Praktiker plunged into a 9 million euro loss in the third quarter of the year, figures presented by Thomson Financial, and as quoted by Dnevnik business daily, shows.

Praktiker ascribed the losses to hefty expenditures stemming from the acquisition of peer company Max Bar and payout of a fine levied by the German antitrust watchdog.

Revenues of the company were up seven per cent to 1.036 billion euros in the July-September period. The German retailer reiterated its forecast for annual revenues of 4 billion euros.

Praktiker reported a sales increase of 20 per cent at home and 30 per cent abroad.