Fiat's (FIA.MI) luxury sportscar brand Maserati expects a positive trading profit in 2009 despite a strong decline in sales due to the economic crisis, Maserati Chief Executive said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Harald Wester said sales in the first eight months of 2009 fell 35 percent, outperforming the market's 40 percent drop.

Maserati reported a trading profit of 5 million euros in the first half of 2009, down from 22 million euros a year earlier.

(Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo; writing by Danilo Masoni)