The profit of German Metro Group, before tax deduction, decreased by 6.6 percent, down to €28 million, in the first quarter of 2008, mainly due to the impact of currency exchange rate variations on euro loans in Romania, according to the group’s financial report.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) went up to €478 million for the entire group, compared to €442 mln in the similar time of 2007.

Sales increased by 7.3 percent in Q1, adjusted to foreign exchange rate variations, to €15.6 billion, supported by the advance in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, the report shows .