Despite increasing risks and high economic uncertainty, the company expects profitable growth to continue in 2022, albeit at a slower pace than originally planned. Against this backdrop, the company published its forecast for 2022 in an ad hoc announcement on March 24.

Jungheinrich can look back on the most successful financial year in the company's history. "We are very satisfied with the course of the 2021 financial year," says Dr. Lars Brzoska, CEO of Jungheinrich AG. The target corridors for incoming orders and net sales, which had already been raised in the course of the year, were exceeded in view of the continuing very good demand for Jungheinrich's products and services. At 4.87 billion euros, incoming orders reached a record level. At 4.24 billion euros, consolidated net sales also posted an all-time high. EBIT improved significantly, surpassing the previous year's figure by €142 million to €360 million, an increase of 65 per cent. The EBIT margin also significantly exceeded the previous year's figure, increasing to 8.5%. EBT amounted to EUR 349 million. The EBT return amounted to 8.2%. "We started the 2021 financial year with the aim of growing profitably and creating sustainable value, even during the pandemic. We have succeeded in doing so," says Dr. Brzoska.

As in the previous year, the coronavirus pandemic had a significant impact on global supply chains in 2021. For this reason, great efforts were still required to secure Jungheinrich's supply of materials. However, thanks to targeted and successful supply chain management, the company was able to largely prevent production stoppages at its plants. Moreover, thanks to successful efficiency measures and appropriate price adjustments, cost increases were successfully offset. Against this backdrop, the Board of Management of Jungheinrich AG will propose to the Annual General Meeting on May 10, 2022 that a dividend of EUR 0.66 per ordinary share and EUR 0.68 per preferred share be distributed. This corresponds to an increase of 61 per cent and 58 per cent respectively compared to the previous year. The dividend will thus also rise to its all-time high.

The macroeconomic risks have intensified massively since February 2022. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is clearly not only having an impact on business with the affected countries themselves, but is also significantly increasing the uncertainties for economic development throughout Europe and beyond. Nevertheless, the Board of Management of Jungheinrich AG generally anticipates good market demand and thus further profitable growth for the Group, as the company announced in an ad hoc release on March 24. The Board of Management currently anticipates a slight decline in incoming orders compared to the previous year. Group sales in 2022 are expected to be slightly higher than in the previous year, with supply chain bottlenecks continuing.

EBIT and EBT are both likely to be significantly lower than the previous year's figures. The returns for EBIT and EBT are also likely to be significantly lower than in the previous year. With regard to the development of material costs, the company expects further significant increases over the course of 2022, starting from the already very high level. The forecast does not yet take into account further negative effects of the war, which cannot be conclusively estimated. "Due to the rapidly changing circumstances, it is currently impossible to make a precise assessment of how the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia will affect our business. We are working hard to assess possible effects on a current basis and to develop plans for both the near and medium to long-term future," explains Dr. Brzoska.