In 2014, Yamaha cemented recovery with growing sales and profit, mainly thanks an impressive performance from its core motorcycle operations.
Overall, the company reported annual revenue up by 7.9 per cent to £8.34bn. Operating profit increased by 58.2 per cent to £479m. Net profit rose by 55.4 per cent to £375m.
Although the brand’s global bike sales volume was down by four per cent to 5.8 million units, booming sales in more profitable developed countries — primarily Europe and the USA — more than compensated for a reduction elsewhere.
Such developed markets delivered 13 per cent growth to 410,000 units. Associated revenue climbed by 21.9 per cent to £1.18bn.
In emerging markets, South-East Asian volume declined by nine per cent while India improved by 23 per cent, combining to a 4.6 per cent reduction at 5.39 million units. However, associated revenue was up by 1.4 per cent to £4.18bn.
For the motorcycle division as a whole, revenue grew by 5.3 per cent to £5.36bn, some 56 per cent of Yamaha’s entire turnover. Operating profit from bikes rocketed by 174 per cent to £126m. The power products division, which primarily encompasses quadbike and side-by-side ATVs, added a 12.2 per cent revenue rise to £780m with related operating profit up by 23.9 per cent to £36m.
For its 2015 financial year, Yamaha is forecasting an approximate eight per cent improvement in its worldwide motorcycle sales volume to 6.28 million units and associated revenue growth to £6.03bn.