Manufacturers are never keen to discuss numbers but we can reveal that the Krone Group made close to 80,000 machines during the last financial year (July 2017 to July 2018).
The commercial trailer division accounted for 56,000 (+7.0%) units, which is reflected in company turnover for the 12 month period with the division generating €1.5 billion of the total turnover of €2.1 billion. Krone’s agricultural machinery division, which accounted for €618 million (+9.0%) of total turnover, made around 25,000 machines during the 12 months.
The following figures are approximate but the company reckons to have made close to 1,000 square balers and over 10,000 mowers during the last financial year. Plus, they produced around 450 self-propelled machines (Big M mower and Big X SPFH). The total global SPFH market is estimated to have been in the region of 2,800 to 3,000 units.
The German and North American markets are the largest, and in its homeland Krone reckons to have supplied one out of every four of the 500-520 new machines delivered during the past year.
Germany remains the company’s most important market (29% of turnover), and one where it claims a leading 24% share of the grassland kit market. The homeland continues to account for almost a third of turnover and improved milk prices helped the company to sell more mowers, tedders and rakes, with a notable increase in sales of balers and SPFHs to contractors.
Around 70% of the agricultural machines made by Krone are exported, with Europe taking around two-thirds of production (includes Germany). North America is the most important export market, followed by France and the UK.
Company turnover has increased four-fold during the past nine years (last year’s €2.1 billion was up 12% on the previous year). The European drought (70% less maize in Germany alone to harvest this year) and another year of low milk prices in North America are slowing business this year but Krone is confident it can continue to grow its business and increase its presence in all main markets.
