17.04.2012

Haulotte up 24 percent

Aerial lift and telehandler manufacturer Haulotte has announced that its first quarter 2012 revenues improved 24 percent to €89 million.

Equipment sales increased 28.4 percent to represent 78.5 percent of the company’s total revenues. Meanwhile the parts/service and rental business increased two percent and 14.1 percent respectively.

Geographically European sales increased 15 percent, with faster growth in Northern Europe. Asian revenues were up 26 percent, largely driven by improvements in Australia. South America jumped 73 percent thanks to strong sales in Brazil, while North America also posted a strong quarter, with revenues up 40 percent.

Haulotte says that while the first quarter remains in line with the growth seen during 2011, some major customers have yet to confirm their buying plans for 2012. In spite of this the company still anticipates double digit revenue growth for the year and the generation of an operating profit.

Vertikal Comment

This is a good result for Haulotte which a strong improvement in machines sales, while it is ‘hedging its bets’ a little given the on-going uncertainties within many of its key markets, it looks set to exceed its forecasts and generate a positive pre-tax result for the year. The strong upturn in the USA also suggest that the company will benefit from the strong local market conditions and even increase its market share in what it has traditionally found to be a tough market.