The mobile-crane division generated total earnings of €2.072 billion in 2016, a decrease of €87 million (4.0%) on the previous year.
According to Liebherr, the demand for mobile cranes was strong in the energy, petrochemical and infrastructure sectors.
Mobile-crane sales in Western Europe declined slightly but it remained Liebherr’s strongest region, accounting for 47.6% of total revenue for this division.
The manufacturer reported an increase in the number of new machines sold in Germany in 2016. However, the trend toward smaller machines meant that the overall turnover from sales of new machines in Germany declined.
Sales revenue in the Middle East declined slightly, while a significant fall was recorded in the Far East/Australia region.
In Eastern Europe, revenue increased significantly, with the Russian market seeing positive growth. A considerable rise in revenue was recorded in the US, while business in Mexico was characterised as ‘remarkable’.
Liebherr expects this division’s turnover in 2017 to be below the 2016 level.
The tower-crane division’s turnover dropped by 6.8% year on year in 2016 to €410 million.
“In 2016, the global market for tower cranes was characterised by intense competitive pressure. This was particularly true of the markets in emerging economies. For example, demand in several regions declined due to cyclical economic fluctuations or geopolitical uncertainties. Overall, the demand trend shifted towards smaller units,” said Liebherr.
In Western Europe, the division recorded growth thanks to upward trends in the strongest sales market, Germany and Austria. Western Europe accounted for 78.0% of the division’s total revenue.
Growth was also recorded in Eastern Europe and the Far East/Australia region. The significant fall suffered in the Middle East as well as the US had an adverse impact on the division’s total turnover.
Liebherr was able to increase its sales of self-erector cranes and truck-mounted tower cranes. Revenues from the machine-rental business also showed positive growth, as did those from equipment and accessories. Sales of top-slewing cranes, by contrast, failed to match the previous year’s level.
For 2017, the manufacturer expects an increase in its tower-crane sales turnover, although it highlights that the year will bring renewed pressure on prices.
The maritime crane division saw its sales revenue shrink by 15.4% year on year to €816 million in 2016.
Overall, Liebherr Group’s revenue stood at €9.01 billion in 2016, 2.5% lower than the record level achieved in 2015. Over the same period, net profit rose by €4 million to €298 million.
Due to the 4.0% fall in revenues of the mobile-crane division, the earth-moving division took the lead in revenue generation, adding €2.074 billion to the manufacturer’s total. The aerospace and transportation-systems division generated revenues of €1.28 million in 2016, up 4.9% year on year.
2016 saw an increase in the Group’s workforce. At the end of the year, Liebherr had 42,308 employees; 763 more than in 2015.
