Sonneberg (dpa/th) – Ongoing logistical problems are burdening the business of the Sonneberg toy manufacturer Piko. Whereas containers from the Far East used to be on the road for five to six weeks, it is currently up to three months, said Piko owner René F. Wilfer on Tuesday. This leads to postponements in the planned deliveries of new products. In addition, there are currently difficulties in procuring electronic components. As a result, AC and Sound model deliveries were delayed.
Nevertheless, the company was able to increase its sales by the end of May by three percent over the same period of the previous year, although this was slightly below the planned sales for the first five months. According to Piko, it generates around two thirds of its total sales in Germany. According to Wilfer, at the end of May it was possible to generate an increase in sales of four percent compared to the same period last year, which was on target.
The problems with the delivery of sound locomotives, on the other hand, caused delays in the export area in particular with regard to the achievement of the planned sales to date. Here Piko is currently 16 percent below plan. “Nevertheless, the current positive order situation allows management to look optimistically to the forthcoming second half of the year and gives hope that the backlog will be made up over the course of the year,” said Wilfer.
