Rising exports fuel 35 percent growth at AUSA

Spanish manufacturer AUSA said sales in the first half of the year increased by 35.2% compared to the same period in 2010 with exports increasing by 58%. Exports represented 72.8% of its business in the period.

The company has not released actual sales figures for the first half, but based on estimated total revenues of €40 million for 2010 that would suggest first half sales in the range €25-30 million, with exports of around €18-20 million.

Margins are also improving and the company made a profit. AUSA sales manager, Josep Soler, said this was the result of "greater control of operations and a new incentive system for sales representatives. The increase in margin allied to improved cost control with respect to 2010 has resulted in positive results for AUSA".

Sales in Spain, however, continued to be weak and were down by 2.5% year-on-year. AUSA said the actual market decrease was 18% and that Spain's construction equipment market was stagnated.

Exports grew by 58% in the first half of the year, including an 88% rise in Germany, and order growth has been highest in the Americas and the Middle East.

Sales were up for all of its products, particularly the Tauralift range of compact telehandlers, where sales grew by 71% in the first half of the year. Sales of site dumpers rose by 48%, while forklift sales were up 30%.

The company has in recent years entered the local government market with its URBAN range of street cleaning equipment. Sales here were up 39% and are now less dominated by sales in Spain, which last year accounted for 82% of URBAN revenues.

URBAN sales increased in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Romania in the first six months of the year.