Haulotte's first-half performance

French equipment maker Haulotte has recorded a satisfying sales rise in the first half of 2021. In its statement to the market, the company notes strong recovery in the global aerial work platform market, but laments sourcing constraints. Haulotte recorded sales of EUR243.2 million (USD287.3 million) in the first half of 2021, up 12% compared to the same period last year. In Europe, group sales accelerated sharply in the second quarter, enabling it to post growth of 9% for the half year compared to the previous year. In the strongly growing North American market, the group's half-year sales were up 39% across all its activities, with sales of aerial work platforms up 48% over the period. In Latin America, despite a still uncertain environment, the group's business grew by 57% compared with the first half of 2020. Asia Pacific went against the growth trends, with half-year sales down by 18% compared to the first half of 2020. Overall, in the first half of the year, equipment sales grew by 9% over the period, rental activity by 29% and service activity, which exceeded its 2019 level, has posted a growth of 32%. Driven by sustained sales momentum in the vast majority of markets, Haulotte currently has a historic backlog that confirms its strategic orientations. Penalised by supply difficulties and strong growth in component prices, the impact of which will really be felt in the second half of the year, the group confirms its forecast of sales growth by more than 15% compared to 2020 and an objective of a current operating margin (excluding foreign exchange gains and losses) between 3% and 4% of sales.