Net Sales and Incoming Orders on Par Year on Year/EBIT Forecast for 2013 Set at 165 to 170 Million Euros/World Material Handling Equipment Market Grows by 5 Per Cent

Hamburg—In the third quarter of 2013, the Jungheinrich Group recorded a slight increase in net sales, which cumulatively were nearly on par year on year after nine months. The value of incoming orders from January to September 2013 was 1 per cent higher than in the same period last year. Orders on hand were 37 per cent up on the end of December 2012. For the fiscal year underway, the Board of Management confirms its forecast for net sales and incoming orders and expects EBIT to total between 165 and 170 million euros.

While the global economy displayed moderate development, the world material handling equipment market expanded by 5 per cent in the first nine months of 2013, encompassing 752.0 thousand forklift trucks compared to 716.3 thousand units in last year's corresponding period. However, demand in Europe, Jungheinrich's core market, was 1 per cent lower year on year. Western Europe recorded a drop of 3 per cent, whereas Eastern Europe's market volume grew by 6 per cent. The Asian market was enlarged considerably, expanding by 8 per cent, to which China contributed a gain of 12 per cent. The North American market continued to post strong growth, recording an increase of 11 per cent.

In the first nine months of the current financial year, the value of the Jungheinrich Group's incoming orders encompassing all business fields amounted to 1,743 million euros, slightly surpassing the 1,720 million euros achieved a year earlier. At 574 million euros, incoming orders in the third quarter of 2013 were 1 per cent down on the figure recorded in the same period last year (580 million euros) which included a major order in the logistics systems business. Orders on hand in new truck business totalled 407 million euros as of September 30, 2013, rising by 109 million euros, or 37 per cent, over the figure on the books at the end of 2012. The range of orders remained in excess of four months.

Due to amendments to IFRS accounting policies and changes in disclosure to increase transparency in reporting from January 1, 2013 onwards, Jungheinrich adjusted the comparable figures for fiscal 2012. On a like-for-like basis, net sales in the third quarter of 2013 amounted to 560 million euros—marginally up on the figure achieved in the same quarter last year (557 million euros). Cumulatively, consolidated net sales totalled 1,638 million euros in the first nine months of 2013, nearly matching the prior-year level (1,652 million euros). Net sales from January to September 2013 were down 2 per cent to 434 million euros (prior year: 442 million euros). Foreign net sales fell by just under 1 per cent to 1,204 million euros (prior year: 1,210 million euros).

The pillars of the Group's net sales trend, which was essentially flat, were gains recorded by short-term hire and used equipment business as well as in after-sales services, which nearly fully offset the reduction in net sales experienced in new truck business. In the first nine months of 2013, the Jungheinrich Group generated 846 million euros from new truck business (prior year: 881 million euros). Net sales achieved with trucks for short-term hire and used equipment were increased by a combined 5 per cent to 290 million euros (prior year: 277 million euros). After-sales services contributed net sales which were up a good 3 per cent to 517 million euros (prior year: 500 million euros).

The Jungheinrich Group closed the third quarter of 2013 with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of 41.8 million euros (prior year: 45.1 million euros). The decline is due to the delayed start of production at the new warehousing and system equipment plant in Degernpoint. September saw the first forklift trucks rolling off the manufacturing line, albeit fewer than planned owing to delays for process-related reasons.