In the first four months of 2021 Hilti Group increased sales by 14.7%, to CHF 1.925 billion (€1.75 billion). In local currencies, growth amounted to 16% compared to the same period of the previous year.

CEO Christoph Loos commented: “The recovery trend in the global construction industry has continued and we have made a good start to the new fiscal year. It is pleasing to note that we have not only made gains compared with the low basis from 2020, but also achieved growth of around 6% in local currencies versus the first four months of 2019.”

Compared with the first four months of the previous year, the Europe business region recorded a sales increase of 22% in local currencies. In addition to a solid growth rate in Northern and Central Europe the dynamic recovery in the Mediterranean countries, in particular, contributed to this result. In the Americas, the 9.9% increase was broad-based, highlighted by the positive development in Canada and Brazil. Asia/Pacific posted a 13.6% increase in sales, despite the very serious ongoing Covid-19 situation in India. By contrast, growth in the Eastern Europe/Middle East/Africa region was only slightly positive (+5%) and still below pre-crisis levels due to the unchanged problematic situation in the Middle East.

Currency developments in the first four months of 2021 were also pleasing. The weakening tendencies of the Swiss franc since the last quarter of 2020 have roughly aligned Group-level business performance in local currencies with the picture in Swiss francs.

Due to the strong base effects compared to the lockdown phase of the previous year, the current growth rate is not indicative of the months to come. For the full year, the Hilti Group continues to expect a sales growth in the high single-digit range in local currencies.