Business news in brief

Stobart airport flies the flag

The owner of Eddie Stobart yesterday hailed Southend airport as “the jewel in its crown” after a year in which profits fell at its haulage arm.

Stobart Group, whose trucks are a common sight on Britain’s motorways and have featured in a Channel 5 documentary, said high levels of promotional activity by retail customers disrupted its transport business.

As well as running some 2,300 lorries and more than six million square feet of warehouse space, Stobart has operations covering rail, ports and air transport, with EasyJet starting to fly from its Southend airport last month.

Premier production on the increase

Oil production at FTSE 250 driller Premier has accelerated in recent weeks, the company yesterday revealed.

Output averaged 56,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) during the first four months of the year but reached 62,700 BOEPD over the past four weeks.

Brazilian backhoe blend for JCB

Manufacturing firm JCB has won one of the biggest contracts in its history with an order for more than 1,000 machines worth in excess of £60 million.

The company beat off competition to secure the deal with the Brazilian government for a fleet of “backhoe loaders”, which will be used to improve the country’s roads.

The machines are being bought by the Brazilian federal government for use in more than 1,000 areas across the country.

Wood wins £5.7m Norway contract

A divison of Wood Group, the Aberdeen-based energy services firm, has agreed a $9 million (£5.7m) contract with Shell for a project in Norway.

The deal between JP Kenny Norway and Norske Shell is for the high-pressure Linnorm project and the contract forms part of a global “enterprise frame agreement” awarded to Wood Group Kenny earlier this year.

Business news in brief - 18/05/12