Ricoh said sales for the first quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2022) increased by 8.1% PCP to ¥459.3 billion ($4.9 billion AUD). “Growth and sales recovered moderately due to the continued impact of material shortages and COVID-19,” the company reported. “In the industrial printing business, sales increased due to strong sales of components mainly for sign graphics.”
The Ricoh Pro TF6251
“Although COVID-19 infections continue to be a major concern, the global economy is on a gradual recovery path with economic activity resuming due to increased vaccination rates in major countries and elsewhere,” Ricoh said. “On the other hand, prices are rising due to ongoing shortages of semiconductors and other materials, the prolonged Russia/Ukraine situation, and other factors.”
Ricoh’s gross profit increased by 10.3% as compared to the previous corresponding period, to ¥168.0 billion. "In response to rising commodity prices and rising procurement costs caused by shortages of materials, controlling price by individual business units such as the price pass-through kept margin and gross profit also improved by continuous effort of the structural reinforcement in development and manufacturing activities, as well as the depreciation of the yen,” it said.
Operating profit increased by ¥3.9 billion compared to the previous corresponding period, to ¥9.6 billion.
“Graphic Communications sales were ¥51.8 billion and increased by 22.0% as compared to the previous corresponding period. In the commercial printing business, sales increased as economic activities recovered in Europe and Americas,” Ricoh said. “Despite the impact of material shortages, sales of production printers increased as we worked to secure production volumes, including procuring alternative components from the market. In Europe and Americas, non-hardware continued to recover, particularly in the printing industry.
“In the industrial printing business, sales increased due to strong sales of components mainly for sign graphics, despite the impact of lockdown in the mainstay Chinese market. In the commercial printing business, although costs rose and profits were squeezed by the market procurement to secure production volumes, improvements in development, production, and service activities and the depreciation of the yen contributed to generate profit.”
