Recently, Komatsu's official website announced the operating hours data for its excavators in March 2023. In March, the operating hours of Komatsu excavators in China increased to 105 hours, a year-on-year increase of 4%. Although the year-on-year change in average working hours for Komatsu excavators in China remains positive, the month-on-month increase of 61.4% in February has significantly narrowed in March. Excluding the Chinese market, Komatsu excavators' year-on-year figures were negative in Japan and Europe while positive in North America and Indonesia. Among them, Japan was the only region with a monthly decrease in operating hours, while Komatsu excavators in Indonesia had the longest operating hours, increasing by nearly 30 hours.
From the data chart, we can see that the specific data for the operating hours of Komatsu excavators in China in March has returned to a basic level of normal operation during the peak season, although this so-called peak season is not very busy. However, the operating hours of Komatsu excavators in March have exceeded 100 hours, reaching 105 hours. With regard to year-on-year changes, the trend has been continuously falling from January to February for the past 11 months, and last month, the operating hours of Komatsu excavators returned to positive year-on-year growth, with an enormous increase of 61.4%. In March, the year-on-year change of Komatsu excavators' operating hours narrowed significantly, with a growth rate of only 4%.
Indeed, in recent times, projects have been launched constantly everywhere, especially for excavators which have found larger applications. Therefore, the specific figures for the operating hours of Komatsu excavators in China this month are expected to increase substantially. However, as this year’s Chinese New Year fell on January, there was a gradual recovery in the market after February. Hence, some of the excavator work demand had already been diluted or occupied in February. In March, it is natural that the operating hours of various types of excavators, including Komatsu, were affected, and the year-on-year changes will further narrow.
Another possibility is that despite the non-busy peak season in March, given the current development of the industry, March’s operating hours of Komatsu excavators in China are likely to be the highest monthly data this year.
In addition, in March 2023, the following are the relevant data for the operating hours of Komatsu excavators in other regions:
The operating hours of Komatsu excavators in Japan were 49.2 hours in March, a decrease of 6.5% year-on-year.
The operating hours of Komatsu excavators in Europe were 79.1 hours in March, a decrease of 6.2% year-on-year.
The operating hours of Komatsu excavators in North America were 73.1 hours in March, an increase of 0.2% year-on-year.
The operating hours of Komatsu excavators in Indonesia were 218.3 hours in March, an increase of 7.4% year-on-year.
As we can see, in terms of specific figures, Japan was the only region where Komatsu excavators' operating hours decreased month on month, with a few less compared to last month. In addition, Indonesia remains the most intense user of Komatsu excavators, with the operating hours of Komatsu excavators reaching an alarming 218.3 hours in March.