Japanese crane manufacturer Tadano has announced record sales and income for the quarter ended June 30 2005.

The company reports that domestic sales were backed by a demand for replacement, especially for ageing construction machines. This resulted in sales of 17million yen (€125,940) – up 19% on the same period last year.

Meanwhile, overseas sales increased to nearly 8m yen (€59,266) – up 37.6% compared with the same period a year earlier, due to steady growth in exports to Europe and North America. As a result, total sales increased 25.1% to nearly 27m yen (€.200,022).

Income rose 49.7% to 2.1m yen (€15,557) and net income amounted to 1.2m yen (€8,889) – a 48.7% rise from the same period of the previous year.

In its domestic market, Tadano reckons that demand for replacement construction cranes will continue growing, which will contribute to a rise in domestic sales. For overseas markets, exports to the middle east and north America in particular appear likely to exceed original targets.

Income is expected to achieve better performance than Tadano initially forecast because of improved product cost rates and a significant increase in revenues.