Record sales of the Astronaut A5 milking robot were largely responsible for the 46% increase in Lely turnover to €606 million last year (€416 million in 2018).
The company says that the increase was achieved in all 46 countries where it is active, and was particularly noticeable in Europe where robotic systems are now the norm. Last year’s turnover also benefitted from increased sales of consumables and services to the growing numbers of installed milking, feeding and barn robots.
Looking ahead to the rest of this year, Lely reckons that slowing economic growth, trade wars, Brexit, and of course the spread of the Corona virus (Covid-19), will impact global dairy markets and milk prices. However, the company stresses that it will continue to invest in R&D to further strengthen its automation of dairy farming activities around the world.
It remains to be seen whether the Corona situation could put a spanner in the works, but during the company’s future farm show, a multi-day event planned for June 2020, Lely will launch several new products and present its vision of a sustainable and fully automated dairy farm of the future.
