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KION recorded a positive start to the fiscal year 2026 in the first quarter, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. The order intake increased significantly compared to the previous year, indicating robust demand in both segments. The group revenue remained nearly stable, underscoring the company’s resilience. Rob Smith, CEO of KION, expressed optimism about the developments: “KION has started the year 2026 positively: order intake and profitability have increased in both segments. KION has demonstrated its resilience in an environment of increasing geopolitical uncertainties: We confirm our forecast for 2026.”
Financial Key Figures at a Glance
The order intake at the group level amounted to €2.985 billion, surpassing the previous year’s figure (€2.706 billion). Particularly in the Industrial Trucks & Services segment, order intake rose by 4.2 percent to €2.041 billion. The number of ordered vehicles increased by 11.3 percent to 72,600, attributed to heightened demand for counterbalance forklifts and warehouse technology equipment. Pull-forward effects related to announced price increases in April 2026 also contributed to this rise. In the service business, however, a slight decline in order intake was recorded.
In the Intelligent Automation Solutions segment, order intake increased by 25.9 percent to €951.2 million. The revival of the project business was supported by improved market dynamics, particularly among e-commerce providers. The service business also remained stable.
Group revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was nearly at the previous year’s level at €2.771 billion (€2.788 billion). In the Industrial Trucks & Services segment, revenue decreased by 4.9 percent to €2.012 billion, while the Intelligent Automation Solutions segment saw an increase of 11.7 percent to €768.1 million.
Adjusted EBIT rose to €205.2 million (Q1 2025: €195.5 million), corresponding to an EBIT margin of 7.4 percent. In the Industrial Trucks & Services segment, adjusted EBIT slightly decreased to €182.9 million, while Intelligent Automation Solutions achieved a significant increase to €46.2 million.
The group result improved significantly to €92.2 million (Q1 2025: –€46.9 million), attributed to the reduction of one-time expenses. Free cash flow amounted to €47 million, despite the variable compensation paid out in the first quarter.
Strategic Investments and Outlook
KION also announced a strategic investment of 35 percent in ZIKOO Robotics, a provider of robotic solutions for pallet storage based in China. This investment aims to expand the portfolio of automated products and support the development of an ecosystem in the field of automation technology.
Despite the positive start to the fiscal year 2026, KION warns of potential burdens from the geopolitical situation, particularly due to the Iran war, which could lead to rising costs in energy, transportation, and materials. The management board of KION GROUP AG reaffirmed the forecast for the fiscal year 2026 published in February, provided that no additional significant burdens arise from the geopolitical situation.
