Ingram records second-best month

Steve Rust, MD for Ingram Micro in Australia wouldn't release actual figures, but said March was the second-strongest month the distributor had experienced in its five years of operation in this country, driven mainly by desktop PC refreshes. Rust said Australian firms were doing a lot of desktop replacement which was instrumental in driving up revenue locally. The company also expects to announce new vendor agencies shortly.

The distributor's PDA sales continue to be disappointing, but notebook sales are growing strongly, he said.

Globally, Ingram Micro expects total sales revenue of $US4.9 billion to $US 5.1 billion on income, excluding charges, of $US 14 million to $US 19 million for the second quarter to 28 June.

First quarter results continued trends experienced in the last quarter, with steady improvements month by month in the parent company's bottom line meaning Ingram Micro was now in the black, earning $US 10.1 million in the quarter ending 29 March. Ingram Micro reported a $US 10.3 million loss in the previous quarter. Excluding special charges, Ingram Micro would have earned $US 23.2 million in the quarter.

The parent company's sales in regions apart from North America and Europe, including Australia, increased 6.8 per cent to $US 790 million, from the same quarter last year.

Ingram Micro reported quarterly sales 2.5 per cent down from the previous year's $US 5.62 billion, citing softer US demand as compared with other regions. North American sales alone, at $US 2.75 billion, were 11 per cent down on the same quarter last year. Shares of Ingram Micro closed up 46¢ at $US 11.65 on the New York Stock Exchange 29 April.