Nikon late yesterday reported its first quarter results and announced that it had revised substantially upwards its sales forecasts for its current fiscal year (which runs April 2011 to March 2012). DSLR sales are expected to grow 26% year-to-year, Coolpix sales 9%, and lenses 20%. The semiconductor equipment division is mostly sticking with its previous forecast, adding one LCD stepper to the projected total to be sold, though that division, too, will show year-to-year growth. This should push operating profit to over US$1 billion. While much of the change is being attributed to faster recovery from the March quake than expected, one of the things likely driving the results are that Nikon will have pushed essentially five new interchangeable lens cameras into the market during this fiscal year (D5100, D300s replacement, D700 replacement, D3s replacement, and the new mirrorless system). The first and last of those will account for millions of the now-expected 5.4 million DSLR sales. Coupled with continued hot sales on the D7000, it's easy to see how they get to the 5.4m number.
As for their first quarter results: 1.36m DSLRs, 2m lenses, 3.95m compact cameras, which represent year to year increases of 29%, 28%, and 14% respectively. Amazingly, put that with Nikon's forward expectations and Nikon looks like a hot growth company all the sudden.
One amusing thing in the English handouts (I'll have to look more closely at the Japanese and see if it's just the translation): "[DSLR and lens sales] satisfied robust demands." Really? Are your demands satisfied? Or are you still waiting for your camera or lens? ;~) I think they mean "[DSLR and lens sales] experienced robust demands [and we emptied the cupboards]."
Finally, the market shares:
- DSLR 2011: 30% (actual)
- DSLR 2012: 34% (estimated)
- Overall cameras 2011: 15% (actual)
- Overall cameras 2012: 18% (estimated)