Liebherr returns to growth

In 2010 the Liebherr Group saw a return to growth with a 9% increase in turnover.

The German company posted a €626 million rise over the previous year to €7.6 billion in its latest annual report published this week. The growth was attributed to increasing demand for machinery in the construction sector, where the increase was 16% (€655 million) to €4.7 billion.

Worldwide sales revenues from wheeled mobile and crawler cranes increased by 2.7% (€47 million) to €1.8 billion. The construction (tower) cranes and mixing technology division increased sales by 1.1% (€5.5 million) to €520 million. Growth in the maritime cranes division was 9.2 %, or €61.6 million, to €730 million.

After the previous year's downturn, the proportion of total Group turnover accounted for by the construction machinery divisions rose again from 58.6% to 62.5%.

By market area the Group's ten largest in 2010 were Germany, France, the USA, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, China, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands.

The Far East and Australia achieved the most dynamic growth for the Liebherr Group. Sales revenue rose by 41.2% or €387 million to €1.33 billion. In the Americas turnover was up 30.6% to a new high of €1.13 billion. Eastern Europe saw a 22% increase in turnover to €638 million.

In Western Europe, the Group's most important sales region, sales revenues were at the same level as 2009. Revenues from the Near and Middle East fell severely in 2010, liebherr said. At €462 million it was 21.1% down. Turnover in Africa was down 6.8% to €350 million.

The return to growth also saw 888 new jobs worldwide, increasing the total number of Liebherr Group employees to 32,979.

For 2011 Liebherr forecasts further growth. Turnover was up 14% in the first six months of the year.