KION Group has benefited from the recovery of the world materials handling markets, consolidating its global market position as the leader in Europe, number two worldwide and the leading international supplier in China.

While KION is silent on the regional breakdown of the group's marketshare, the group claims it now has a worldwide marketshare of over 15%.

KION says it "took advantage" of its strong foothold in the high-growth markets of eastern Europe, South America, China and other Asian countries, which accounted for over a quarter of total new truck sales in 2010.

Germany was the main driver of growth in the group's home market of Western Europe, which grew by 23% to 222,000 units. Demand for industrial trucks in Eastern Europe, where KION claims it maintains a leading position, almost doubled to about 40,000 units.

Despite the growth, the Western and Eastern European markets are still over 25% and 40%, respectively, below their previous peak levels.

The Chinese market expanded by 70% to set a new record high of over 200,000 units. Consequently, China now makes up about a quarter of the global market.

"Given our marketshares, we are the clear number three (in China) after two large local Chinese suppliers," says KION spokesman Michael Hauger. The group has had its own production sites and development capacities, and extensive distribution and service network in China for over 15 years. In 2010, it took full management control over local brand Baoli, which is targeted at the low-end market (Forkliftaction.com News #464). KION had set up a joint venture with Baoli in 2009 (Forkliftaction.com News #407).

Brazil, South America's most important market for forklifts and warehouse equipment, also grew significantly, with demand rising by 170% to 23,000 units. KION also has local production facilities in Brazil.

According to KION's market intelligence, the global market for industrial trucks grew by 45% to 796,000 units in 2010.

Orders for the group increased 27.5% to EUR3.860 billion (USD5.449 billion) in 2010 compared to the previous year's EUR3.028 billion (USD4.274 billion). Revenue rose by 14.6% from EUR3.084 billion (USD4.353 billion) to EUR3.534 billion (USD4.988 billion). Its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew 48.7% from 2009's EUR311 million (USD439.0 million) to EUR462 million (USD652 million) in 2010. KION, with its Linde, STILL, Fenwick, OM and Baoli brands employs nearly 20,000 people worldwide.

Separately, the supervisory board of KION Group has extended the contract of CEO Gordon Riske by another five years. Riske will be in charge of the group until 30 September 2015.

Board chairman Manfred Wennemer praised Riske for leading KION through the global economic downturn and says the company is now in a stronger financial position than before. "Riske has also developed and implemented a globalisation strategy that is already generating visible growth."