Konecranes reports strong deliveries as port equipment orders decline
Konecranes reported higher sales and strong delivery performance in the third quarter of 2026, supported by increased activity in its Port Solutions business, although new orders declined significantly during the period.
The Finnish lifting equipment manufacturer recorded third-quarter net sales of €1.10 billion, an increase of 11.4% from €988.7 million a year earlier. On a comparable currency basis, sales increased by 10.3%, reflecting growth in Industrial Service and Port Solutions, while Industrial Equipment sales remained stable.
Group order intake declined by 12.0% to €1.01 billion from €1.15 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2025. The decrease was 12.7% on a comparable currency basis, with higher orders in Industrial Service and Industrial Equipment offset by weaker order intake in Port Solutions.
Comparable EBITA increased to €172.2 million from €164.9 million, although the comparable EBITA margin declined to 15.6% from 16.7%. The company attributed its strong quarterly sales performance to solid deliveries, particularly within its port equipment operations.
Port Solutions sales strengthen despite lower orders
Konecranes’ Port Solutions business recorded a substantial increase in third-quarter sales, supported by strong equipment deliveries.
Net sales in the segment reached €420 million, representing growth of 28.3% on a comparable currency basis compared with the same period in 2025. The increase in sales volumes also contributed to improved profitability, with the segment’s comparable EBITA margin rising to 12.0% from 11.8%.
However, order intake in Port Solutions declined by 36.7% on a comparable currency basis to €288 million.
According to Konecranes, the decrease reflected the timing of customer orders during the quarter rather than a reported reduction in customer interest across its equipment portfolio.
The company stated that activity in its customer pipeline remained strong across different product lines, despite the unfavourable timing of order placements.
CEO Marko Tulokas highlighted the contrast between order intake and delivery performance during the period.
“Delivery performance was solid in the third quarter, particularly in Port Solutions,” said Tulokas.
He also noted that order intake had been affected by the characteristic volatility of the Port Solutions business.
Konecranes continues to view the long-term prospects for container handling positively, pointing to container throughput remaining at a high level. However, the company acknowledged continued uncertainty related to geopolitical developments and international trade policy tensions.
Group profitability and nine-month performance
For the first nine months of 2026, Konecranes recorded net sales of €3.03 billion, broadly unchanged from the corresponding period of 2025.
Order intake increased slightly to €3.32 billion, compared with €3.31 billion a year earlier, while the order book rose by 8.0% to €3.30 billion.
Comparable EBITA for January–September declined to €407.4 million from €424.2 million, with the comparable EBITA margin decreasing to 13.4% from 14.0%.
Free cash flow for the nine-month period amounted to €160.2 million, compared with €391.4 million in the previous year.
Within the company’s other business areas, Industrial Service recorded third-quarter order intake of €400 million and net sales of €398 million on a comparable currency basis. Its comparable EBITA margin improved to 23.7%, supported by operational execution and positive pricing.
Industrial Equipment reported external order intake of €338 million, while external sales amounted to €302 million. The segment’s comparable EBITA margin declined to 10.9%, reflecting lower volumes and the effect of favourable one-off items in the comparison period.
Konecranes also reported that its third-quarter results benefited from approximately €8 million in US tariff refunds.
Full-year guidance remains unchanged
Despite the decline in quarterly order intake, Konecranes maintained its financial guidance for 2026.
The company expects full-year net sales to remain approximately at the same level as in 2025 or increase, while its comparable EBITA margin is expected to remain approximately unchanged from the previous year.
Management also reiterated its assessment that demand among industrial customers remains healthy, while container throughput continues to support the long-term outlook for port equipment.
At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty and trade policy tensions remain important considerations for the company’s operating environment.
Konecranes published an updated strategy in September 2026, accompanied by higher financial targets and a stronger emphasis on profitable growth, technology and operational efficiency.
The strategy includes expanding the company’s product offering and geographical presence, strengthening its position across customer segments and increasing the use of artificial intelligence and operational data.
For Port Solutions, the third-quarter results demonstrate the difference between current delivery activity and the timing of new equipment orders, with higher sales and improved margins recorded alongside a substantial decline in order intake.
