Volvo CE posts optimistic results

Volvo Construction Equipment is posting optimistic financial results that show an increase in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2013. The firm reports deliveries climbing by 9% as global markets show sign of improvement. A slowly recovering global market helped Volvo Construction Equipment round off 2013 with sales up 3% in the fourth quarter and improved market share, especially in compact equipment. When adjusted for currency movements net sales increased further – to 6%. These improved figures are due
February 7, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
2394 Volvo Construction Equipment is posting optimistic financial results that show an increase in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2013. The firm reports deliveries climbing by 9% as global markets show sign of improvement. A slowly recovering global market helped Volvo Construction Equipment round off 2013 with sales up 3% in the fourth quarter and improved market share, especially in compact equipment. When adjusted for currency movements net sales increased further – to 6%. These improved figures are due largely to higher sales of smaller equipment, helping to boost deliveries by 9% during the quarter.

Operating income was up 16% during the period, at €30.8 million, compared to €26.6 million in the same period of the previous year. Operating margin also saw improvements in the fourth quarter, at 2.1% – up from 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Despite the sales increases in the final three months, for the full year 2013 Volvo CE saw sales decrease by 16% to €6.04 billion, compared to €7.2 billion in 2012. Operating income was also down during the year, a result of tough price competition, weak product mix, low capacity utilisation and unfavourable exchange rates, to €293.2 million, down from €641 million in the preceding year. Operating margin was also affected, slipping to 4.9% in 2013 from 8.9% in 2012. These figures reflect the general weak market conditions experienced during the year.

The prospects for 2014 are expected to show some improvements as global markets recover. For 2014 the total markets in China and Europe are expected to increase in the range of 0-10% measured in units, while North America, South America and Asia (excluding China) are all expected to be in the range of minus 5% to plus 5%. “For 2014 we expect a slight improvement in market demand, mainly driven by China and Europe,” commented Martin Weissburg, the incoming president of Volvo Construction Equipment, who joined the company on January 1st 2014.
Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Volvo CE benefits from strong sales of construction machines
    July 18, 2019
    Volvo CE reports strong financial performance on the back of healthy sales. The firm says that improvements in the key European and North American markets, coupled with a strong focus on its service business, volume flexibility in the industrial system and tight cost control have helped the company to deliver a good all round performance in its second quarter 2019 results. Net sales in the second quarter increased by 10%, amounting to SEK 26.814 billion, compared with SEK 24.403 billion in Q2 2018. Operati
    Read More
  • Volvo Construction Equipment remains upbeat despite 2015 sales dip
    February 5, 2016
    Volvo Construction Equipment saw market share and underlying earnings improve in the final quarter of 2015. The company said that improved underlying earnings and more market share of the important larger machine segments were insufficient to offset a declining total market in Volvo Construction Equipment’s final quarter 2015 results. Sales were down 11% in the period. For full year 2015, sales at the company dipped by 3%. In the fourth quarter of 2015 Volvo CE reported that net sales decreased by
    Read More
  • Flat sales hamper Q3 results for Volvo Construction Equipment
    October 31, 2014
    Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) reported 9% improvement in North American sales for the third quarter 2014. However, the manufactures said it was not enough to overcome uncertainty and negative growth elsewhere. Net sales in the three months July to September increased to US$1,735 million (SEK 12,582 million), up from $1,692 million (SEK12,278 million) for the same period last year. However, when adjusted for currency movements, net sales were down by 3% during the period. Volvo’s statement said “
    Read More
  • Volvo CE president says 2012 was “reasonable year” despite lack of sales growth
    February 7, 2013
    Sharply reduced global demand for construction equipment in the final three months of last year led to Volvo Construction Equipment’s (CE) full 2012 year sales growing by less than 1%, compared to sales in 2011. Volvo CE sales reached US$10.037 billion (SEK 63,558mn) in 2012, compared to $10.028 billion (SEK 63,500mn) the previous year. Operating income was down to $911.7mn (SEK 5,773mn), from $1.075 billion (SEK 6,812mn) in 2011, operating margin was 9.1% in 2012, down from 10.7% 12 months earlier, and the
    Read More

Highlighted Content