Crane manufacturer Tadano posted a 12.3 % year-on-year increase in sales for its financial year ended 31 March 2015. Sales were JPY 204 billion (US$ 1.70 billion) against JPY 182 billion ($ 1.5 billion) the year before.
It was the second consecutive year of record high sales and profit for the Japanese manufacturer. Sales exceeded JPY 200 billion for the first time. Operating income was up 40 % on the previous year at JPY 29 billion ($ 242 million) and net income was up 35 % at JPY 19 billion ($ 135 million) in the same period.
Good business in Japan came from earthquake restoration and recovery work and schemes to replace ageing infrastructure. A further boost will come from the decision to hold the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Sales in Japan were up 16.5 % at JPY 101 billion ($ 842 million).
Demand also grew outside Japan, up by 8.4 % to JPY 104 billion ($ 867 million), or 51 % of the total. While sales increased in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, they fell in North and South America and Australia.
By product type, sales of wheeled mobile telescopic cranes in Japan rose by 24 % from the previous fiscal year to JPY 47 billion ($ 392 million). Outside Japan, even as demand fell, sales rose 10 % to JPY 89 billion ($ 742 million). Total sales of mobile cranes was up 14 % to JPY 136 billion ($ 1.13 billion). Truck loader crane sales in Japan were up nearly 15 % to JPY 20 billion ($ 167 million). Outside Japan sales were down 19 % at just over JPY 1 billion yen ($ 8 million). Total sales of truck loader cranes increased 12 % to JPY 21 billion ($ 175 million).
A different outlook is forecast for the 12 months to the end of March 2016 where sales are expected to increase by just 1 % to JPY 206 billion ($ 1.72 billion). Demand overall had already started falling in the year to March 2015.
Source by KHL.
