Skip to main content

Volvo CE achieve best ever Q1 sales

Volvo CE has reported record first quarter year sales. Sales between January 1 and March 31, 2012 were up 17% on the same three months of 2011. Despite a 26% decline in the overall construction machine sales market in China during the first quarter of this year, Volvo CE says it maintained sales in the country and reinforced what the company claims is its number one position in the Chinese wheel loader and excavator market together with its joint-venture partner, SDLG. Volvo CE says it achieved a 111% incre
April 27, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
359 Volvo CE has reported record first quarter year sales.

Sales between January 1 and March 31, 2012 were up 17% on the same three months of 2011.

Despite a 26% decline in the overall construction machine sales market in China during the first quarter of this year, Volvo CE says it maintained sales in the country and reinforced what the company claims is its number one position in the Chinese wheel loader and excavator market together with its joint-venture partner, 5316 SDLG. Volvo CE says it achieved a 111% increase in sales in North America in the first three months of 2012.

Volvo CE also posted new record Q1 operating income and operating margin figures. The company saw a 21% increase in operating income to US$316.6million (SEK 2.13billion), and an operating margin of 11.8%, up from 11.4% in the same period last year. Both measures of profitability are records for the company in a first quarter, and are attributable to sales price realization, currency effects and internal cost reductions.

The value of Volvo CE’s order book on 31st March 2012 is also said by the company to be 35% higher than the same stage of the previous year.

“The strong sales growth and high profitability is a combination of growth in all regions, especially in North America, and our success in achieving sales and profitability is on a par with the preceding year in China, despite the significant weakening of that market,” says Volvo CE’s President Pat Olney. “Our success in China was due to our continued ability to capture market share, thanks to a strong product portfolio and our efforts to establish stable distribution channels.”

Between January 1 and March 31 this year, Volvo CE opened a new plant in Linyi, China, that will make SDLG branded equipment. Meanwhile in Bangalore, India, a new factory was inaugurated to make Volvo excavators, alongside the existing road machinery products already produced at the facility.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 20% more visitors flock to CTT 2012/Conexpo Russia
    June 6, 2012
    Huge commercial opportunities for major construction equipment manufacturers sparked by large investment in new and existing Russian transport infrastructure attracted 20% more visitors and 15% more exhibitors to CTT 2012/CONEXPO Russia. Major global brands such as JCB, John Deere, Volvo Construction Equipment (CE), Komatsu, Liebherr, and Wirtgen were among the 911 construction equipment companies from 28 countries present for the five-day event covering more than 124,000m² at the IEC Crocus Expo in Moscow
  • Manitou posts 6% sales increase for first half 2015
    August 5, 2015
    Manitou, a maker of telehandlers, aerial platforms and forklifts, has reported sales for the half year 2015 up 6% to €681 million. The company, based in Ancenis, France, also reported net income of €17 million versus €14 million for the same period last year. Order intake on equipment in second quarter of this year was €252 million versus €248 million in Q2 2014. "The growth regions remained in North America and northern Europe, however with less sustained momentum than last year,” said Michel Deni
  • French earthmoving market remains strong in Q1 2019
    May 7, 2019
    The French market for earthmoving equipment remained very strong in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data compiled by CISMA. Q1 sales rose 12% compared to the same quarter 2018 with that for compact equipment up by 14%. CISMA - the French trade association - noted that this performance is mostly due to the strength of sales to rental companies (+32%) and the good performance of non-rental sales. Sales of crawler excavators are up by 11%. Sales of wheeled loaders grew by 23% t
  • Italy’s construction market is growing
    November 18, 2019
    Investments in the construction sector continue to grow, driven by the resumption of public works.