Sales for the companys Graphic Systems division fell by 10.7% for the first nine months of the year to 840m (euro1.2bn). Excluding exchange rate variations the decrease was 3.4%, while the divisions operating profit dropped 7.5% to 59m.

Agfa said it had solved its capacity problems for printing plates since its manufacturing plant in Wuxi, China became operational on 30 October.

The facility, which can produce 25m m2 a year, will supply the Chinese and Asian markets with analogue and digital plates.

The groups total sales for the nine months fell 10% to 2.2bn, while operating profit fell 14% to 180.6m. Profit before tax slipped by 10.9%.

Agfa credited its Horizon Plan for reducing sales and administrative costs by 7%, easing the affect of price erosion.