The number of employees in the company increased by 100 to 1,405, including 56 employees retained as part of the reintegration of the formerly independent welding department. Lemken reported that business in the main markets in Europe, above all in Germany and France, continued to be weak, although the UK was relatively stable considering the impending exit from the EU.

Increases in central and eastern European business, where Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria are largest sales regions, were particularly good. Business also developed in Russia, another important agricultural market, and sales in Ukraine were even doubled. Lemken’s top 10 markets also include Canada and China, where the family enterprise established an own assembly and sales subsidiary three years ago.

Germany contributed 26% to the total sales, the remaining western European countries 28%, Eastern Europe 33% and the US/Canada 6%. The export share is currently 74% and increased by €5m to €241m in the past year.

The good results in the spare parts business also had a positive effect on the overall result. This was supported by the introduction of new sets of conditions and the implementation of a new service strategy for dealers. Lemken manufactured a total of 12,809 implements in the past financial year.

Full coverage: Lemken machinery

Lemken well on track

Lemken, the specialist for professional tillage farming, upheld its strong market position last year in a difficult market environment and maintained sales revenue of €325m.