Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Scania reported Thursday pre-tax losses of 181 million kronor (23 million dollars), citing lower sales and a drop in demand in its markets.

The red-ink compares with a net profit of 4.2 billion kronor in the same quarter of 2008.

The group's turnover in the quarter plunged to 14.4 billion kronor in the second quarter, compared with d from 23. p billion kronor last year, with the company citing a slump in demand in "practiclly all markets" which it operates in.

"Vehicle deliveries fell by some 50 per cent and service volume by over 10 per cent, which significantly impacted earnings," Chief Exective Leif Ostling commented.

Scania said it expected demand to remain low in the third quarter. (dpa)