Second quarter performance review
Page 11
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THE SECOND QUARTER was tough, but probably not as tough as the irst quarter for most operators. Of the respondents, 37% reported that volumes had increased either a lot or little in Q2 compared with the same quarter a year ago, while 31% reported increases in proit. However, 33% reported a fall in volumes and 39% a fall in proit.
The picture is similar when comparing Q2 2012 with forecasted igures: 36% saw an increase in volumes and 30% an increase in proit, while 30% saw a fall in volumes and 36% a fall in proit. The forecast for the current third quarter looks like this: 31% expect an increase in volumes and 28% an increase in proit, while 26% expect a fall in volumes and 31% a fall in proit.
Own-account operators have the most optimistic outlook for Q3: 50% expect both volumes and proit to increase, while just 10% expect a fall in either volumes or proit. Logistics and contract distribution irms are fairly positive: 30% expect an increase in volumes and 47% an increase in proit, while just 18% expect a fall in volumes and 24% a fall in proit. Q3 is more challenging for hire and reward hauliers: 29% expect an increase in volumes, but 31% expect a fall, and 18% expect proit to improve while 34% expect it to decline.