Suzuki’s motorcycle business has underlined its return to profitability in solid half-year results to 30 September. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Over this six-month period, total revenue from bikes and ATVs was 1.5% up to £868m. Asia was responsible for the biggest chunk of that, rising by 16.2% to £445m. European turnover fell by 15% to £140m. North America was 4.5% down at £102m. However, related operating profit climbed by 7.4% to £28m.
Global sales volume achieved 10.2% growth to 878,000 units. Again, Asian markets were dominant, with a 14.8% improvement to 720,000. In the three largest of these, the wholly-owned Suzuki subsidiary in India put on 37.3% to 331,000. Joint-venture affiliates in China sold 170,000, a 13.7% decline. Suzuki’s subsidiary in the Philippines boasted a 23.5% rise to 100,000.
In the developed world, Europe was 12.5% up at 27,000 and North America added 5% to 21,000. Japan’s domestic market dropped by 13.9% to 31,000.
The company noted in its results statement that the value of repatriated revenue from India fell significantly in the second quarter, owing to sharp rupee depreciation.
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