30.10.2017

Kobelco crane sales slip

Kobelco parent Kobe Steel has released half year results today, with the Construction division, of which Cranes is now a part, showing a healthy return to profitability on a steep rise in sales.

However the 17 percent rise in revenues to ¥182.7 billion is due entirely to higher excavator sales, particularly in the domestic Japanese market, where the impending arrival of new, stricter emissions regulations has spurred demand for current models. Pre tax profits were ¥11.4 billion ($100 million), compared to a small loss at the same point last year,

Demand for cranes in Japan has also been high but is now beginning to fall, while export demand, particularly from North America and East Asia, has slowed, resulting in fewer units being sold during the period.

Sadly now that it is fully integrated into Kobelco Construction, we can no longer see the profit & loss for the crane business.