Triumph Reports Dip In Sales For 2018 But Records Second Best Profit Since The 80s

British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph last week reported a healthy sales report for the year 2018. According to one of its spokespersons, 2018 was recorded to be the company’s second-best for profit since it was revived in the 80s by current owner John Bloor.

Citing unfavourable exchange rates, Triumph reported year-on-year fall of 60% – from the record $28.2 million profit in the year ending June 2017. Additionally, the number of bikes sold also dropped from 63,401 to 61,505. The poor foreign exchange affected Triumph’s earning significantly despite the total turnover from sales of the bikes increasing from $569.29 million to $579.9 million.

The company’s sales registries suggest that 2018 was the first such sales decline in the past eight years, with sales being on a rise of 3 per cent each year over the past five years.

According to the Evening Standard, a spokesperson for the company commented: “With over 85% of our global sales in non-sterling currencies and a significant amount of our purchases also in foreign currencies, FX has a major impact on our business.
“Selling in markets like the USA, manufacturing in Thailand and assembling in Brazil means we need to hold the significant bike and component stock in those currencies.”

In the same breath, Derbyshire-based Bloor Holding the company behind Triumph reported steady growth in its profits and turnover in the year to the end of June 2018. Reports suggest that the company’s overall profit rose from $211.1 million to $214.3million, while turnover grew from $1.64 billion to $1.71 billion.

Among the most recent of its nukes, Triumph unveiled the all-new factory-custom Rocket III. The original Rocket III which was discontinued in 2017 was revived by Triumph with a boosted engine size as well as output. And it looks like TFC has taken hold of one of these and dialled it up to eleven.

While Triumph says it is a concept, a test mule of the same bike was spotted testing recently by MCN, confirming speculations about its imminent launch. Triumph will make a full announcement about the model on the 1st of May.

Featuring premium surfaces everywhere and a modular single/dual seat, the TFC Rocket is powered by a 2.5-litre inline triple that pumps out 180hp and 230Nm. To say that the specs are impressive is an understatement, for they are downright ridiculous.