UPDATE 1-Q-Cells posts Q3 loss on writedowns, restructuring
* Q3 net loss 248.2 mln eur vs 146 eur loss forecast
* Q3 sales 184.2 mln eur vs 191 mln eur forecast
* Sees positive impact from cost cuts from Q1 2010 onwards
(adds details, background)
FRANKFURT, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Q-Cells (QCEG.DE) posted its third consecutive quarterly net loss on writedowns and restructuring costs, but said cost cuts would start having a positive impact on earnings from early 2010.
The company's third-quarter net loss came in at 248.2 million euros ($371.9 million), below the forecast in a Reuters poll for a 146 million loss.
The company said on Thursday the net loss was due to reorganisation costs related to job cuts, as well as impairment losses on inventories and investments.
Earlier this year Q-Cells said it would cut about a fifth of its workforce as it battles a price slump that has pushed the entire solar industry into crisis.
Although demand for solar equipment has somewhat stabilised at low levels in the second half of 2009, European and U.S solar companies are still grappling with price declines of up to 50 percent and stiff competition from Asian peers that manage to produce at lower prices. Continued...

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