Nikon news: company faces massive $720M loss

Japanese news publication Toyo Keinzi expects Nikon will soon post a $720 million loss for the fiscal year. This is a historic drop, having earned $65 million the previous year. The losses being tied to the slumping camera market caused by the pandemic and Nikon’s slow transition into mirrorless camera production.

This is all according to two articles published by Toyo Keizai. The publication examines Nikon’s expected operating loss. They also conducted an interview with Nikon’s Managing Executive Officer Hirotaka Ikegami where they talked about the expected operating loss.

Toyo Keizai expects a dismal showing for Nikon

Toyo Keizai reported the news that Nikon’s operating losses between April and September 2020 fell to a loss of 6.6 billion yen, which converts to about $449 million US dollars. In the same period back in 2019, Nikon was up 17.5 billion yen—about $168 million. The publication expects Nikon to report a 75 billion yen—about $720 million—loss in March 2021. That’s compared to the company’s surplus of 6.7 billion yen—about $65 million—in the previous fiscal year.

If this prediction does come true, this would make history. It would be the largest financial drop Nikon would have ever experienced. Also, for comparison, Canon is likely to post a profit of 64 billion yen—about $616 million.

Nikon’s video division is focusing on mirrorless

In Toyo Keizai’s news interview with Hirotaka Ikegami, Nikon’s video division is expected to show a deficit of 45 billion yen—about $433 million. Last year, the video division had a deficit of 17.1 billion yen—about $164 million. Ikegami says Nikon’s expected poor numbers are directly tied to its slow transition to mirrorless.

“I wasn’t afraid of conflict (with SLR cameras), but rather I wasn’t looking at the market calmly and objectively,” he says, translated from Japanese. “I was most concerned about how much the performance of the electronic viewfinder (EVF) can be improved, and the number of shots can be increased.” He wondered if the format would be accepted by professionals and high amateurs.

In response, Nikon is moving its camera production out of Japan. Also, it’s looking to reduce operating costs by 59% for the next fiscal year. Also, Ikegami is confident that sales will improve also. The company will invest more research and time into developing its mirrorless technology and products.

Sean Berry
Sean Berry
Sean Berry is Videomaker's Managing Editor.

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