In 2010, the international economy grew by approximately 5% and largely overcame the consequences of the financial and economic crisis. This recovery, however, varied from one region of the world to another. Whereas there was particular growth in trade volume in threshold countries, the upward trend in industrial nations was less pronounced. World trade expanded exceptionally strongly in 2010, by 12%.
Worldwide demand for commodities rose and is still rising. This has opened up exceptional growth prospects for the global mining industry, with the result that demand for machinery and equipment for the extraction of raw materials increased strongly.
The European construction industry has not yet been able to keep pace with the general economic upturn. Construction work performed in the 19 member-nations of the “Euroconstruct” organization fell by more than 3 %. After three successive years in which this volume has fallen, the construction industry is expected to regain its stability in 2011.
The Liebherr Group benefited from the worldwide business recovery in the 2010 business year and resumed its growth. Total turnover rose by € 626 million (over $879 million) or 9% to € 7.587 billion (nearly $10.7 billion). This growth derived exclusively from the Group’s construction machinery area, in which it proved possible to increase sales revenues by € 655.3 million (over $920.4 million) or 16% to € 4,744.2 million (nearly $6.7 billion).
Sales revenues from the earthmoving and mining division increased in a gratifying manner by € 602.6 million (over $846.4 million) or 33.3 %, to € 2,412.7 million (almost $3.4 billion). Worldwide sales revenues from mobile and crawler cranes increased by € 47.2 million (almost $66.3 million) or 2.7% to € 1,811.8 million (over $2.5 billion). The construction cranes and mixing technology division increased its sales revenues slightly, by € 5.5 million (over $7.7 million) or 1.1% to € 519.7 million (nearly $730 millon).
(Source: Liebherr Group Press Release)