14.02.2013

Haulotte up 16% for 2012

Haulotte has released its top line revenue numbers for 2012, which show a 16 percent increase over 2011.

Total revenues were €355.7 million, 16 percent higher than in 2011, this comprises New equipment sales of €277.3 million, 19 percent higher than last year, parts and service sales of €32.5 million up five percent and rental revenues of €45.9 million, an eight percent improvement.

The company says that sales grew in all geographic areas, but particularly in South America where they jumped 77 percent, The United States which was 27 percent higher and Asia Pacific – up 21 percent. European sales remained weak, but still grew by five percent in the year.

Haulotte says that it expects to break even for the year as a whole, at least on the operating level.

Looking at prospects for 2013 the company said: “The European economic environment remains difficult, but the need for fleet renewal in Europe and the positive orientation of the emerging markets in which we operate support the business outlook for this year and should allow Haulotte Group to show sales growth of around 10 percent in 2013.”

Vertikal Comment

While this growth does not quite match the levels seen by the company’s competitors in North America, it is still a solid performance, especially given the dire situation in some of the key markets where Haulotte has been traditionally strong, such as Italy and Spain, while France is also struggling somewhat.

The company needs to improve its market share in the Americas, Asia and Northern Europe all of which will put it in good shape when Southern Europe eventually comes back, allowing it to grow at a faster pace than the others.

The gap between Haulotte and the top two manufacturers – JLG and Genie – has widened a little during the recession, especially in the past year or two when North American has rebounded strongly, while Europe has stagnated at best. Its position as the world’s third largest self-propelled aerial lift manufacturer is probably still secure, although Skyjack has certainly moved a good deal closer.

Haulotte will unveil its full results in early March