(Reuters) - Spanish sausage casing producer Viscofan reported a 1.2 percent drop in its full-year core profit, hit by higher raw materials and energy costs, associated mainly with the start-up of a new plant in Spain, it said on Thursday.
Viscofan issued a profit warning in October, but failed to meet its own guidance for the third year in a row.
It posted 2018 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 208.6 million euros (179 million pounds), down 1.2 percent, missing its own expectations of 2-5 percent growth.
For 2019, Viscofan expects core profit growth of 10-13 percent, net profit gains of 8-14 percent and top line growth of 6-8 percent.
It also plans to reduce its capital expenditure by 15 percent to 60 million euros.
Reporting by Anita Kobylinska; Editing by Alexandra Hudson
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