Tadano sales up 7%

Crane sales at Tadano in Japan were up 7.4% in the quarter from 1 April to 30 September 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.

The figure was JPY 87,867 million (US$ 910 million) compared with JPY 81,807 million ($846 million).

"Overall demand in our industry for construction cranes maintained its momentum due to replacement needs in the domestic market. In overseas markets, energy-related demand remained robust in North America, while demand also increased in Europe and the Middle East," Tadano said.

Domestic sales from April to September fell 7.2% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year to JPY 41,685 million ($431 million). Sales of construction cranes increased while sales of truck loader cranes and aerial platforms decreased.

Export sales rose 25.3% over the same April to September period of the previous fiscal year to JPY 46,182 million ($478 million), largely due to higher sales of construction cranes in Europe and North America. The ratio of overseas sales to total sales reached a record high of 52.6%.

Ordinary income rose 9.7% to JPY 9,046 million ($94 million) and net income for the second quarter rose 2.7% to JPY 5,593 million ($58 million) despite higher costs caused by the rise in raw materials prices and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. As a result, growth in sales and profit reached record highs for the sixth consecutive year.

Looking ahead to the full year (1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009), Tadano forecasts sales of JPY 178,000 million ($1.84 billion), up 2.1% on the previous full year. Net income, however, is forecast to be 20.8% lower at JPY 9,200 million ($95 million).