India, Aug. 4 -- Belgian steel wire maker Bekaert reported resilient first-half 2025 earnings as strong cash generation and cost control offset softer sales, but warned that tariffs and currency pressures are weighing on demand. The company posted consolidated sales of 1.9 billion, down 5.2 percent year-on-year, with volumes declining 2.6 percent and price/mix effects stripping out a further 2.2 percent. Underlying EBIT slipped 16.2 percent to 171 million, delivering a margin of 8.8 percent compared with 9.9 percent a year earlier. Free cash flow surged to 123 million from 43 million in the prior-year period, driven by a 135 million reduction in working capital and 21 million in cost savings as the company continued to streamline operatio...