KION Group lags behind market growth in forklift segment

KION Group reported that its order intake in the third quarter fell by nearly 1% to approximately 2.7 billion euros, failing to keep pace with the overall growing market for industrial trucks.

The company is experiencing a divergence between volume and value. While the number of machines sold increased during the first nine months of the year, the total value of orders has declined. This trend is particularly evident in the high-end segment, where demand for premium brands such as Linde and Still has weakened.

In contrast, orders in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 20%, but this growth is primarily driven by lower-priced machinery. Following a recent downward revision of its annual forecast and a delay in reaching its mid-term goal of double-digit operating margins, KION's stock has seen significant volatility, losing roughly half its value since the beginning of the year.