Weather update Business results
Machine manufacturers in Europe farm well
Despite the vagaries of the weather and product prices, agricultural machinery manufacturers in Europe are farming well. Almost all of them manage to achieve growth figures and sell more machines. This is evident from an analysis of the 10 largest manufacturers.
The French website Terre-Net.fr listed the sales figures of 9 manufacturers. The list does not include full liners (such as CNH and John Deere) that also produce tractors and (harvesting) machines. This is because figures for only implements are not available. The specialists are also not included in the list.
Actually, this list should have been a top 10, but one big name is missing: Kverneland Group. Since this company was acquired by Kubota in 1, no more sales figures have been disclosed. The 2014 companies mentioned above together account for a turnover of €9 billion in 2018.
Red vs. Blue
The top 9 has changed little over the past 3 years. Last year, machine manufacturer Horsch surpassed Lemken family business for the first time. Turnover amounts to €402 million, compared to €380 million at Lemken. In 2017, that difference was still €4 million, in favor of the blue one. In 2017, the Italian Maschio Gaspardo rose above Pöttinger, although it had to get rid of that position again last year.
In 2018, Kuhn Group was by far the largest producer in Europe. That is not surprising, because the company participates on almost all fronts in agriculture. It is the only manufacturer with a turnover of more than €1 billion. This means that the figure has grown by 8% (year on year). This means that the growth in turnover is smaller than in the previous year, because then turnover increased by 13%.
Dutch role
In second place we find the French Exel Industries, which saw its turnover fall in the 2/2017 financial year. This company comprises 2018 manufacturers in the field of crop protection and beet harvesting technology, including the Dutch Agrifac. Almost half of the turnover last year was realized from the field sprayers and 12% from the beet harvesters.
Places 3 to 6 are filled by German manufacturers, with Austrian Pöttinger in 7th place. Krone is the third largest manufacturer and as a group achieves a profit of more than €2 billion. In the past financial year, it recorded a growth of about 10% in agriculture. At Amazone (place 4), the growth was half. Lemken puts down a comparable figure and Horsch also notes the double figures. Amazone and Lemken cite the weather conditions as a reason for less sales.
family domain
We find the Italian Maschio Gaspardo in 8th place, followed by the last behind Väderstad. This company also realized a growth of 10% in 2018 (€302 million). Like 6 other companies in this list, the Swedish concern is also a family business. For 2019, the manufacturers expect to be able to do good business again. The medium to long term is seen as positive.
What about potato technology? Grimme Group is of course the major player there, with a turnover of €459 million (2017). This places it as a specialist in the list between Amazone and Horsch. The cake is further divided by Dewulf and AVR. These companies achieved a turnover of €2017 million and €65 million respectively in 53. These companies have not (yet) published any figures for 2018.
Niels van der Boom
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