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LEGO

Denmark’s Lego builds around inflation to post profit

Lego, the world's number one toymaker, said Tuesday that its revenue and profits rose last year as demand for its plastic bricks remained strong despite inflationary headwinds.

Denmark's Lego builds around inflation to post profit
A model version of Nyhavn at Legoland Billund. Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

For 2022, net profit at the Danish firm rose four percent to 13.8 billion kroner ($1.98 billion) while sales jumped 17 percent to 64.6 billion kroner.

“These results were delivered despite extraordinary inflationary pressures on materials, freight and energy costs,” the company said in a statement.

Excluding currency effects, the sales gain was 11 percent. The privately-held company did not provide unit sales.

The firm, in which the holding company of Denmark’s Kirkbi family owns 75 percent with the rest being held by the Lego Foundation, said sales improved
in all markets and its market share grew globally.

“The company expects single digit revenue growth in 2023, ahead of the global toy market and will continue to accelerate investments in strategic
initiatives,” it said.

The company has seen continued success in the last two years even after no longer enjoying a boost from lockdowns keeping people at home, so far
withstanding pressure from inflation and slowing economies.

It has been buoyed both by sets based on franchises such as Star Wars and Harry Potter as well as home-grown hits like Lego Friends and Lego Technic.

Lego, which has completely withdrawn from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, has continued its strategy of opening more stores, with
155 new shops opened during the year, bringing the number of shops worldwide to 904.

The company, which employs some 27,000 people, has also been making major investments to reduce the climate impact of its products and operations,
including by manufacturing closer to consumers.

The group has just opened a carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam, joining already established ones in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Mexico, China and
Denmark. A new factory is also being constructed in the United States.

READ ALSO: Lego launches bricks with Braille

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BUSINESS

Maersk profits plummet as Yemeni attacks close off Red Sea route

Danish shipping giant Maersk posted a huge drop in net profit for the first quarter on Thursday as Yemeni rebel attacks are forcing it to avoid the vital Red Sea route.

Maersk profits plummet as Yemeni attacks close off Red Sea route

Maersk reported a net profit of $177 million in the first three months of the year, a 13-fold drop from the same period last year. Turnover fell 13 percent to $12.4 billion, slightly lower than forecast by analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet.

The company, however, raised its outlook for the full year, citing higher demand and increased rates and costs due to the supply chain disruptions in the Red Sea.

It now expects an underlying core profit ranging between $4 billion and $6 billion, up from $1 billion-$6 billion previously.

“We had a positive start to the year with a first quarter developing precisely as we expected,” Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said in a statement.

“Demand is trending towards the higher end of our market growth guidance and conditions in the Red Sea remain entrenched,” he said.

“This not only supported a recovery in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter, but also provide an improved outlook for the coming quarters, as we now expect these conditions to stay with us for most of the year.”

Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the country’s Red Sea coast, have launched dozens of attacks on ships since November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians caught up in the Israel-Hamas war.

The United States in December announced a maritime security initiative to protect Red Sea shipping from the attacks, which have forced commercial vessels to divert from the route that normally carries 12 percent of global trade.

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