Good results

Japan: Komatsu has reported net profits of JPY 59 billion (US$ 546 million) for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2005, more than double last year's figure. Sales of construction and mining equipment rose +22.9% to JPY 1.06 trillion (US$ 9.92 billion), with all regions except China seeing growth last year. It was also the first time in the company's history that Japan was not its biggest regional market. Sales in the Americas hit JPY 310 billion (US$ 2.87 billion), while the figure for domestic sales was JPY 271 billion (US$ 2.51 billion).

Kobelco Construction Machinery's net profits increased +21.1% last year to JPY 3.42 billion (US$ 31.6 million), but sales were down -5.2% to JPY 174.5 billion (US$ 1.7 billion). Domestic sales accounted for Yen 93.3 billion (US$ 863 million), while overseas sales reached Yen 81.2 billion (US$ 751 million).