[HUG ] Dollar fall kills Hasselblad? (and Leica?)

Now the effect of the low US$ and weaker US consumer spending hits European 
industries.  Once thriving European industries that has prospered from exports, 
first of all, to the US now see deep trouble ahead.  Hasselblad is typical of 
the sort of businesses that just might die from the loss of the US market.  

In my local currency, NOK (Norwegian Kroner) the US$ has almost halved it's 
value, from NOK 9,95/$ back in 2002 to now NOK 4,95/$ - practially the same 
relation in Swedish Kroner.  Compared to the Euro, the dollar has fallen close 
to 60% in less than six years.  Experts say that an even lower US$ must be 
expected.

Typically, the Hasselblad CFV (and Leica M8) - intended to be 'affordable' on 
the US market, now has turned out to be forbiddingly expensive - in dollars.  
Still they are within reach over here, but the European market is only half the 
customer base for these tiny producers.  With the other half of the customers 
gone - the folks in USA, the producers must increase the price even further to 
stay afloat.  

The recent dollar fall spells problems for most European exporters - From car 
producers to cruise ship operators.  For some of them the Chinese market might 
offer an alternative, but not to all.  Hasselblad and Leica is very typical of 
this category that can't expect to compensate a traditional & good US market 
with new-world-type-market like China.

Don't blame the managment of Hasselblad (and Leica).   They are victims of 
events far outside their own control.  Like most of us.

Tom of Oslo

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