Ingram sales up more than a quarter in Q2

Distribution giants enjoys healthy sales growth as profits more than double

On the rise: Ingram's sales and income have both grown in Q2

Distribution giant Ingram Micro has reported a triple-digit increase in profits and a 27 per cent rise in year-on-year sales during its fiscal second quarter.

The firm’s worldwide sales topped $8.16bn (£5.2bn) during Q2, up from $6.58bn during the same quarter last year, and its net income has leapt from $25.3m in 2009 to $67.7m this year.

The results, combined with those reported earlier this week by Ingram’s rival Arrow Electronics, suggest a return to pre-recession form for the distribution channel.

Greg Spierkel, chief executive of Ingram Micro, attributed the firm’s performance to a mix of cost-saving initiatives and better partner engagements.

He said: “Our notable progress is a function of proactive vendor and customer engagement, new tools and programmes embraced by our customers, and expanded solutions and data centre support.”

Spierkel said the company has performed well across all regions, with sales up 30 per cent to $3.56bn in North America.

Within EMEA, sales topped $2.37bn during Q2, representing an 18 per cent year-on-year increase. However, Ingram did admit that the weak performance of local currencies within the region had cost it seven points worth of annual growth.

After the firm’s strong Q2 performance, Spierkel said the company is predicting that its third quarter revenues will be “generally flat sequentially, in line with normal historical seasonality”.

He added: “Year-over-year sales comparisons are expected to be more modest than the prior two quarters, as our energised sales efforts had a positive effect starting in the third quarter of last year.”