Ballyvesey Holdings, which owns the Montgomery Trans-port Group, has reported a "disappointing" trading performance in the year to 30 September 2006, with a loss after taxation of more than £666,000.
In the previous year, Ballyvesey, whose main activities are road transport, trailer manufacturing and - through its Montracon subsidiary - vehicle and construction equipment sales, made a profit of £1.42m.
The Co. Antrim-based company saw turnover dip slightly from £254m in 2005 to £252m. Directors point to static increases in rates, strong competition and the rising prices of energy and raw materials as the main reasons for the decline from profit to loss.
"Intense competition has restricted the group to pass on increased costs to our customers, resulting in a decreased gross margin," says the directors' report.
The firm is now concen-trating its efforts on increasing efficiencies and improving the company's manage-ment information system, 
along with developing new products and new business opportunities.
The directors did not pay out a dividend during the year - the previous year they paid out £242,354.