Business performance in the Group

KION delivered a positive business performance overall in the first half of 2026. There was a moderate rise in consolidated revenue compared with the prior-year period. This was driven by a jump in revenue in the Intelligent Automation Solutions (IAS)* segment, which more than made up for the small decrease in the Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) segment in the first six months. The Group notched up a noticeable increase in its adjusted EBIT and adjusted EBIT margin thanks to a corresponding improvement in the two operating segments. In the first six months of 2026, order intake fell short of the exceptionally high figure recorded in the prior-year period even though order intake reached a good level in the first quarter. Free cash flow for the reporting period was in positive territory despite cash outflows under the efficiency program and M&A activities.

In the first half of 2026, KION acquired around 35 percent of the shares in ZIKOO Smart Technology Co., Ltd., a provider of warehouse robotics in China, and thereby established a strategic partnership aimed at expanding the portfolio of automation solutions.

Under its Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) program, KION GROUP AG placed an unsecured corporate bond of €500 million that matures in March 2031. The entire inflow of funds was used to repay existing liabilities from the lease business with the aim of making the Group’s financing even more flexible and resilient.

* The Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) segment was renamed Intelligent Automation Solutions at the start of 2026