In fiscal year 2008/2009 (ended March 31), Leica registered sales of EUR 134.2 million. This is a 14.1 % decrease as compared to the sales of EUR 156.2 million posted in the previous year.
Rudolf Spiller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Leica Camera AG: “The reasons for the decline in sales and earnings are to be found in the negative economic developments of our relevant international markets, the phasing-out of products due to their life cycles, as well as the delayed market introduction of new products.”
In fiscal year 2008/2009, sales of system cameras fell by 26.9 % to EUR 41.8 million. Sales of compact cameras decreased by 10.3 % to EUR 44.3 million. Leica sports optics saw a sales decline by 16.6 % to EUR 24.8 million.
Sales abroad stand at EUR 115.8 million or 86.4 % of total sales of Leica Camera Group. At EUR 49.1 million or 36.6 % of total sales, the Asian market is the most important individual market for Leica Camera AG, followed by the US, Canada and Mexico, which account for EUR 27.9 million or 20.8 % of total sales. Sales in the home market, Germany, fell by 15.9 % to EUR 18.3 million.
The average number of employees in the Leica Camera Group increased from 991 in the previous year to 1,058 in the year under review.