Results for the motorcycle division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries in the first quarter of its current financial year to 30 June displayed a disparity between improving performance in the developed world and retreats in certain big emerging markets.
Quarterly sales volume in Europe — combining bikes, ATVs and personal watercraft — grew by 25% to 15,000 units. North America did better. Overall volume in the US and Canada recovered by 63.6% to 18,000 units. Within that, motorcycles put on 83% to 11,000 units. Japan also bounced back, with volume up by 20% to 6000 units. Unfortunately, Kawasaki’s exposure to struggling emerging markets, and Indonesia in particular, told a different story. Volume plummeted, down by 37% to 64,000 units.
Total divisional net revenue for the period nevertheless rose by 11.2% to £372m. But Indonesian problems slaughtered earnings, creating an operating loss of £5m — against a small operating profit of £1m in the equivalent three months last year. Â
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