[22] Inventories

The reported inventories break down as follows:

Inventories

 

 

(€ thousand)

2010

2009

 

 

 

Materials and supplies

120,019

93,864

Work in progress

72,294

57,722

Finished goods and merchandise

337,249

317,512

Advances paid

5,967

1,729

Total inventories

535,529

470,827

The increase in inventories as compared to 2009 largely results from the higher volume of business in 2010.

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