Yamaha Motor posts first quarter profit

TOKYO: Japan's Yamaha Motor Co. said Wednesday it swung back into the black in the first quarter compared to a heavy loss in the same period last year, with gains driven by Asia sales growth.

In the quarter ended March, the motorcycle maker earned a net profit of 7.5 bn yen (81 mn dollars), compared with a loss of 15.8 billion in the same period a year earlier during the global downturn.

It said motorcycle sales were up 16 percent from a year ago, attributable to a 36.7 percent rise in sales in Asia, excluding Japan, coupled with the positive impact of a weaker yen versus emerging Asian nations.

Sales of marine products such as boat engines increased 16.4 percent, it said.

Yamaha, whose earnings term matches the calendar year, maintained its forecast that it will break even for its business year ending December.