Europe and North America lift Komatsu figures

Komatsu’s revenues for the nine months of the fiscal year ending on December 31 came in at JPY 1,437 billion (US$ 12.2 billion), a +3.4% increase on the same period last year. The company’s operating income for the three quarters was up +9.8% to JPY 182 billion (US$ 1.54 billion).

Of its total revenues, some JPY 1,286 billion (US$ 10.9 billion) came from its sales of construction, mining and utility equipment. This was a +2.8% increase on the same period last year. Operating income for the division came in at JPY 172 billion (US$ 1.46 billion), a +4.7% improvement.

Komatsu’s biggest increase in sales in absolute terms over the nine months was seen in North America, where revenues were up +12.7% to JPY 227 billion (US$ 1.93 billion). In percentage terms, Europe fared the best, with a +25.8% rise in sales to JPY 107 billion (US$ 910 million). There was also a useful +15.6% increase in sales to the Middle East, which took the regional total to JPY 42 billion (US$ 356 million).

On the downside, domestic revenues from Japan, Komatsu’s biggest single market, were down -0.4% to JPY 244 billion (US$ 2.08 billion). More significant was the -22.6% decline in sales in China, which took revenues to JPY 87 billion (US$ 737 million). There was also a -11.2% fall in sales in Oceania, taking the total to JPY 106 billion (US$ 898 million).

Overall, the company expects revenues for the fiscal year to the end of March to come in at JPY 1,925 billion (US$ 16.3 billion), a -1.5% decline on the previous year. However, operating income is expected to rise +6.0% to JPY 255 billion (US$ 2.16 billion).