MaxiPARTS Limited (ASX: $MXI) has provided a trading update, indicating that recent acquisitions and new business initiatives are contributing to expected growth. However, the company's underlying business has experienced a revenue flattening due to a slowdown in transport activity on the East Coast in March and April, along with increased pricing pressure and ongoing cost inflation.
The recent trading update reflects the challenges faced by MaxiPARTS in the East Coast transport market, with softer than anticipated activity levels and increased pricing inconsistency. The company is also grappling with cost inflation and competitive labor market conditions. Despite these challenges, the integration activities for Independant Parts and Forch are progressing as planned, and the company remains focused on driving profitability improvements into FY25 and beyond.
MaxiPARTS anticipates reporting FY24 results within the ranges specified in the trading update. The company acknowledges the unexpected reduction in activity and the impact on end customers, emphasizing the need for further assessment of the underlying market activity. Despite the short-term challenges, MaxiPARTS is confident in its ability to drive profitability improvements, particularly through strategically important projects such as Forch and the Japanese Parts program, along with the acquired IP business adding scale in WA. The company also expects the short-term integration costs to normalize as the work is completed.