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Annual Report 2014 Markets EMEA North America Latin America Asia/Pacific Small Appliances Professional Products

Major Appliances
Asia/Pacific

Electrolux has market-leading positions in Australia and New Zealand and is expanding in growth markets in Southeast Asia and China. New product offerings adapted to meet an expanding middle class in these growth markets comprise a key element of the growth strategy.

Gunilla Nordström, Head of Major Appliances Asia/Pacific

Gunilla Nordström

 

About half of Electrolux appliances sales in the Asia/Pacific region is in Australia, where the Group is the market leader. The Electrolux brand is positioned in the premium segment with a focus on innovation, energy and water efficiency, and design. The Group’s Westinghouse and Simpson brands command strong positions in the mass-market segment. Key competitors comprise Fisher & Paykel, Samsung and LG Electronics. The market softened slightly in 2014, and the Group’s sales volumes declined. Water and energy efficiency are key drivers in the hot and dry Australian climate. Electrolux dishwashers and front-load washing machines are well adapted to these conditions and have significant market shares.

Growth and innovation

During the year, Electrolux acquired Australian BeefEater Barbecues, which has a strong, established position in the barbecue segment. in Australia. A considerable amount of cooking is done outdoors and the acquisition complements and strengthens the Electrolux offering and position in this segment. 

Electrolux sees substantial growth potential in the barbecue segment, since it accounts for almost one quarter of the cooking-products market in Australia. 

Growth in the appliance market in Southeast Asia has been strong in recent years, but demand declined in 2014. Electrolux sales has showed strong grown in the region and market shares have increased.

Electrolux has a strong offering of premium products, for example, energy-efficient front-load washing machines and built-in appliances for the kitchen, such as gas hobs with burners that are especially adapted for stir frying. Premium products are in demand by a rapidly growing middle class. Demand is also increasing for energy-efficient products. Refrigerators from the newly opened plant in Thailand further strengthened Electrolux position in Southeast Asia during the year.

China is the world’s largest market for household appliances, measured by volume and, in the last few years, the growth rate in the region has been high. In 2014, market demand declined year-over-year. The Electrolux market share of the Chinese market is relatively low, but sales has grown by an average of about 35% per year since 2009. Electrolux is focusing its offering on premium products for the rapidly growing middle class in major cities in China and has a complete range of kitchen and laundry appliances, which has been especially developed for Chinese consumers. 

Efficient manufacturing 

To further streamline and consolidate manufacturing, production is transferred from Orange, Australia, to the plant opened in 2013 in Rayong, Thailand. The plant is at the center of the Group’s global development of refrigerators and plays a crucial role in efforts to achieve profitable growth in the Asia/Pacific market. 

Share of net sales 2014
 

8%

Share of operating income
 

9%

Market position
 

  • Core appliances 37% in Australia.
  • Small but growing market share in Southeast Asia
Net sales and operating margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10
11
12
13
14
 
 
 
 
 
0
 
2,000
 
4,000
 
6,000
 
8,000
 
10,000
 
SEKm
0
 
3
 
6
 
9
 
12
 
15
 
%
Net sales
Operating margin
  10 11 12 13 14
Net sales 7679 7852 8405 8653 8803
Operating margin 10.3 9.4 8.9 5.4 5.1

Comments on performance
 

Electrolux showed a slight organic growth in 2014. Sales volumes continued to increase in growth markets, while sales in Australia declined.

Operating income was impacted by a negative country mix and unfavorable currency development., while higher prices and enhanced cost structure contributed to earnings.

Priorities moving forward
 

  • Strengthen the leading position in Australia and New Zealand 
  • Grow profitably in Asia 
  • Increase market share in China 

Market demand for major
appliances 2014 compared to 2013

 

Electrolux
markets

 

Average number 
of employees 2014

 

3,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electrolux NutriFresh Fridge

The Electrolux NutriFresh Fridge is produced at the new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The fridge is developed to meet Asian consumer needs for optimal storage of vegetables.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Electrolux Time Manager Washer

Front-load washing machines is a growing segment in Southeast Asia. In 2014, the Electrolux Time Manager washing machine was named a winner at the Successful Design Awards, a competition that recognizes successful designs in the Chinese market.

BeefEater

The acquisition of Australian BeefEater Barbecues strengthens the Electrolux offering and positions the company in the key barbecue segment, which accounts for almost one-quarter of the cooking products market in Australia.