Krone Group generated sales revenues of nearly €2.3 billion in 2024/2025 (previous year €2.4 billion). Earnings before tax fell from €107 million to €40.1 million.
The commercial vehicle division accounted for around €1.4 billion of total sales, with farm machinery approx. €846 million. While farm incomes improved slightly, climate-related risks, political uncertainties and rising variable costs continue to dampen farmers’ willingness to invest in agricultural machinery.
Bernard Krone, chairman of the supervisory board of the Krone Group, explains that short term customer purchasing behaviour linked directly to the overall economic situation is common in the commercial vehicle sector.
“We are now increasingly observing this behaviour in the agricultural machinery segment as well,” he said. “Contractors and farmers around the world are currently reacting very sensitively to political and economic uncertainties and are holding back on new investments.”
Despite customer hesitation, Krone agricultural machinery sales increased by 1.2% in the last fiscal year (ended 31 July 2025). 26.3% of this was generated in Germany. One third of the rest was spread across other West European markets. Eastern Europe, North America, and the rest of the world, accounted for 10%, 20% and 10.7%, respectively.
Krone expects sales to remain at a similar level this year, as wars and international customs policy continue to influence the global economy. “We have to accept that long-term economic trade agreements no longer provide the stability we are used to,” said David Frink, CEO of Bernard Krone Holding.
“This poses a major challenge for an internationally active industrial company such as Krone, as we have to carefully plan group-wide production, global distribution with retailers and our service activities.”
However, Mr Frink expects the market to pick up in the medium term. “We are currently seeing a slight recovery in the German agricultural machinery market, and we will also be gradually repositioning ourselves in future markets such as Asia and India.”
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