BackToyota Q2 falls 32%, withdraws full-year forecast
Toyota Q2 falls 32%, withdraws full-year forecast
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Tokyo: Toyota Motor Corp posted a 32% drop in quarterly operating profit and withdrew its full-year profit forecasts as Thai floods pose a fresh threat to production while supply shortages from the March earthquake kept output low.
Once the world’s most envied and profitable automaker, Toyota has lost its shine against domestic rival Nissan Motor Co. Nissan last week lifted its profit forecasts as it achieves strong sales growth in developed and emerging markets with popular new models.
Toyota said on Tuesday its operating profit for July-September was ¥75.39 billion ($966 million), worse than an average estimate of ¥101.3 billion in a Reuters survey of 12 analysts.
Second-quarter net profit was ¥80.42 billion, down 18.5%, while revenue fell 5% to ¥4.57 trillion.
For the year to 31 March 2012, Toyota had forecast an operating profit of ¥450 billion, but it withdrew its full-year forecasts for profit and vehicle sales due to uncertainty surrounding the Thai floods. The consensus forecast was for 486 billion yen in a survey of 21 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The Thai floods have forced Toyota to halt work at its three vehicle plants in its Southeast Asian export hub from 10 October at least until 12 November. A shortage of parts has also forced it to reduce production in nine other countries including Japan.
Toyota said on Tuesday it would keep its Japanese production reduced at least until 18 November. It was still undecided on production elsewhere, including in Thailand.
Between 10 October and 12 November, Toyota would lose production of about 150,000 vehicles from the supply shortage, a spokeswoman said. This week, its Japanese factories were working at 70-80% of planned levels, while output in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan was at 40% of plans.
Its North American factories, excluding Mexico, were working at 90% of plans.
Toyota had just started to ramp up production in September, working overtime and some weekends to make up for output lost after the 11 March disasters.
The supply constraints from the two disasters have hit Toyota’s sales and market share the world over and will likely place it behind General Motors Co and Volkswagen AG this year. Toyota is still by far the most valuable, with a market capitalization of $113 billion.
Toyota must also find a way to keep its commitment of building at least 3 million vehicles annually in the shrinking Japanese market without bleeding profits.
Toyota’s shares have fallen 22% in the year to date, faring worse than Nissan, which is down about 8%, but better than Honda Motor Co, which has fallen 28%.
Before the results were announced, Toyota shares closed down 1.7% at ¥2,503, in line with the broader Tokyo market.
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