SKF 1Q Sales Rise 10.4%

The company's sales in the first quarter in local currencies increased by 4.4% in Europe, by 2.9% in North America, by 4.1% in Latin America, by 10.6% in Asia and by 21.4% in Middle East and Africa.

Gothenburg, Sweden - SKF released 1st quarter results.

Tom Johnstone, President, and CEO, commented: “Sales developed well in the first quarter compared to the low first quarter last year and were relatively unchanged compared to the fourth quarter. We continued to have a negative mix in our sales with a stronger development of our automotive business and our industrial OEM sales in Asia. The possible pre-buy ahead of the price increase in the aftermarket in Europe and North America was not as anticipated.

"During the quarter we received a number of awards and continued to strengthen SKF by gaining new business, launching a number of new products and making good progress with our cost reduction programme.

"Kaydon is developing well and had a first good quarter. The integration is proceeding according to plan with a strong focus on both sales and cost synergies.

"Agreement was reached in the quarter with the European Commission regarding their investigation and is within the amount taken as a provision in the fourth quarter last year. This will be paid in June and will impact cash flow in the second quarter.   

"Going forward we expect demand to develop positively both sequentially and compared to the second quarter last year. Manufacturing will be higher year on year and slightly higher compared to the first quarter.”


Key figures

  Q1 2014Q1 2013
Net sales, SEKm  16,73415,152
Operating profit, SEKm  2,0241,480
Operating margin, %  12.19.8
Operating margin excl. one-time costs, %  11.411.4
Profit before taxes, SEKm  1,7871,237
Net profit, SEKm  1,275818
Basic earnings per share, SEK  2.721.74

Operating profit for Q1 includes the net positive effect of one-time items totalling around SEK 120 million. As a result of the settlement with the European Commission a reversal of SEK 150 million was made related to the provision taken in Q4 2013. The quarter also contained one-time items of around SEK 30 million related to restructuring as well as a negative revaluation effect due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso.

Net sales change y-o-y, in SEK,attributable to:VolumePrice/
mix
StructureCurrency
effect
Total
Q1 20146.2%-0.4%4.7%-0.1%10.4%

Sales in the first quarter in local currencies and excluding structure increased by 4.4% in Europe, by 2.9% in North America, by 4.1% in Latin America, by 10.6% in Asia and by 21.4% in Middle East and Africa.

Manufacturing in the first quarter was higher compared to last year.

Outlook for the second quarter of 2014

Demand compared to the second quarter 2013
The demand for SKF’s products and services is expected to be slightly higher for the Group, North America and Asia. It is expected to be relatively unchanged for Europe and slightly lower for Latin America. For Strategic Industries and Automotive it is expected to be slightly higher and for Regional Sales and Service relatively unchanged.

Demand compared to the first quarter 2014
The demand for SKF’s products and services is expected to be slightly higher for the Group, for North America and Asia. It is expected to be relatively unchanged for Latin America. For Strategic Industries and Automotive it is expected to be slightly higher and for Regional Sales and Service relatively unchanged.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing is expected to be higher year over year and slightly higher compared to the first quarter.

 

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