Japanese crane manufacturers Kato and Tadano have both reported further losses for the financial year to 31 March 2000.
Kato made a net loss of 2.62bn Yen (US $25m) on sales of 35.2bn Yen ($328m). In the previous year it made a net loss of 1.1bn Yen on sales of 43.5bn Yen.
Tadano made a net loss of 2.4bn Yen ($22m) on sales of 61bn Yen ($570m). In the previous year it made a net loss of 1.2bn Yen on sales of 73.1bn Yen.
The results show how hard Japanese industry has been hit in recent years. Three years ago, in fiscal 1997, Kato had sales of nearly 72bn Yen and Tadano 108bn Yen.
