HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Forklift truck manufacturer Jungheinrich believes it is on track to meet its annual targets after the first six months. Management confirmed its forecast of earning between €400 million and €450 million from day-to-day operations in 2023 - up from €386 million a year earlier. In the second quarter, that earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) rose nearly 38 percent to 115.7 million euros, the company said Thursday in Hamburg. After supply chain problems and high steel prices as a result of the Ukraine war had caused problems and cost pressure last year, things were now going better again.

In the three months to the end of June, the operating margin (Ebit margin) rose year-on-year from 7.4 to 8.5 percent, back towards the level of two years ago. The Hamburg-based company was also pleased to report continued strong demand at the mid-year point, with order intake rising by a good 18 percent in the second quarter to a good 1.3 billion euros. Sales grew by a fifth to just under 1.4 billion euros. At the bottom line, Jungheinrich earned 74.7 million euros, more than a third more than in the same period last year./lew/mis