Cumulatively, EBIT from January to September 2013 totalled 123.9 million euros (prior year: 130.6 million euros). After nine months, the corresponding return on sales was 7.6 per cent (prior year: 7.9 per cent). Net income amounted to 26.8 million euros in the third quarter of 2013 (prior year: 28.1 million euros) and totalled a cumulative 76.1 million euros in the first nine months of 2013 (prior year: 82.2 million euros). Accordingly, earnings per preferred share amounted to 2.27 euros in the nine-month period of 2013 (prior year: 2.45 euros).

The Jungheinrich Group's balance sheet total decreased by 61 million euros, amounting to 2,698 million euros as of September 30, 2013 (December 31, 2012: 2,759 million euros). The equity ratio rose further, to 29.2 per cent (December 31, 2012: 27.3 per cent). Intangible and tangible assets were up 46 million euros to 400 million euros. The first-time consolidation of the logistics software firm ISA – Innovative Systemlösungen für die Automation GmbH and the strategic capex projects for increasing capacity came to bear here.

As regards the continued development of business, Jungheinrich still expects the global economy to post moderate growth until the end of the year. Against this backdrop, the company anticipates that the worldwide material handling equipment market will record solid growth for 2013 as a whole. However, the European market may well remain slightly smaller than last year. Jungheinrich prognosticates that Asia will post a significant rise in market volume for the full year, driven above all by the strong recovery of the Chinese market. The North American market should continue to expand significantly.

Based on the economic forecasts, the expected developments on the global material handling equipment market and the positive trend displayed by incoming orders year to date, Jungheinrich confirms its forecast for incoming orders and net sales, expecting figures for fiscal 2013 in the order of last year's level. As regards EBIT, the Board of Management has set its assessment at a figure between 165 and 170 million euros.

Jungheinrich expects the worldwide economic environment to improve in 2014. Against this backdrop, the global material handling equipment market should continue to grow next year, albeit displaying regional differences. Says Hans-Georg Frey, Chairman of the Board of Management of Jungheinrich AG: "By successfully completing the strategic investment projects, we have established the prerequisites for benefiting from the market's positive development expected in 2014 and subsequent years."

Jungheinrich ranks among the world’s leading companies in the material handling equipment, warehousing and material flow engineering sectors. The company is an intralogistics service and solution provider with manufacturing operations, which offers its customers a comprehensive range of forklift trucks, shelving systems, services and advice. Jungheinrich shares are traded on all German stock exchanges.