"Everyone put their own claims on the table and there were no big moves," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential.
-- Germany opposes splitting order, says talks constructive
The A400M is an airlifter designed to carry soldiers and heavy equipment to rugged combat zones like Afghanistan and would-be customers say they want it in service as soon as possible. It has been derailed by technical problems and soaring costs, sparking testy exchanges between Germany, its biggest projected buyer, and Airbus parent EADS. Other buyers are France, Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey.
Airbus parent EADS wants governments to come up with 5.2 billion euros of payments in kind to help stem losses on the 20 billion euros project while pledging to absorb other risks. But Germany has rejected any increase in the price of the plane and signalled afresh it was sticking to its position.
"The basis of the negotiations was and remains what was contractually agreed. We're sticking to the A400M but not at any price," a German official told Reuters after the talks. Papering over differences over who is to blame for massive cost overruns on the plane, which soured an opening session on Thursday, the buyer nations were expected to issue a joint statement backing efforts to find a compromise by January 31.
Germany and officials from other nations said the talks had been "constructive". The pledge to keep talking contrasted with recriminations over an apparent lack of progress on the first day of talks on Thursday, with one source describing negotiations as "tough" and a senior industry official accusing nations of ignoring the aerospace group's "serious" plight.
Top EADS executives outlined their case to junior ministers and the heads of defence procurement agencies, but diplomats said any breakthrough may depend on a fresh political impetus. Shares in Airbus parent EADS fell almost 2 percent as worries mounted over the potential financial implications for Europe's largest aerospace firm if talks fail, but most diplomats and experts expect a deal to be found. EADS stood at 14.1 euros, down 2 percent, at 1410 GMT.
In a warning that could raise alarm bells in Paris and Berlin, a leaked audit said EADS could be forced to raise fresh capital if the seven nations fail to agree a price increase for the plane and costs continue to increase. Experts say a refinancing could reopen a debate about EADS's future that neither Paris nor Berlin is anxious to address.
Under one proposal being discussed, nations could help EADS without spending any immediate new cash by agreeing to take fewer planes for the same budget as a first tranche. New money for the remaining planes would not be needed until 2020. Under an EADS proposal the scheme would engineer a price increase of just over 25 percent for each plane in the first tranche. Audit data suggests that splitting the cost overrun with nations would equate to a price hike nearer 20 percent. Germany reiterated on Friday it would block a tranche solution, saying it would raise costs.