Trading Statement

Electrocomponents PLC
21 September 2004



                                        Embargoed until 7.00am 21 September 2004


ELECTROCOMPONENTS PLC TRADING UPDATE

Electrocomponents plc, the major international high service distributor of
electronic, electrical, industrial and commercial supplies, has today given a
trading and business update.

Ahead of forthcoming meetings with analysts and investors we are updating the
market on trading and other developments since the last statement made at the
Annual General Meeting on 16 July 2004.

The Board expects that profit before tax and goodwill amortisation for the half-
year to 30 September 2004 will be around £51m. This would be an increase of
about 13% on last year, despite adverse movements in exchange rates and
increased pension contributions. Cash flow remains strong.

The Group's year-on-year sales growth rate in the first half to date has been
around 6% (at constant exchange rates and adjusted for trading days). The UK
business grew at over 2%, Allied in North America at over 20%, Japan at about
30% and Asia, including Australasia, achieved double digit growth. Overall sales
growth in the Rest of Europe of over 2% was held back by a small decline in
France; the other businesses increased growth to around 6%. French sales were
impacted by disruption to customer service following the implementation of new
systems in June 2003 though service levels have now been restored and
profitability was higher than last year.

The next implementation in the United Kingdom encompasses the global supply
chain and will take place in the second half of calendar 2005. To achieve
success additional costs of £3m this year and £8m next year will be incurred,
together with a stock build this year of £13m above normal requirements.
Additional annual depreciation of £5m will be triggered by the implementation.

Given the strong underlying cash flow of the Group the Board expects to declare
an interim dividend of 5.8p per share (an increase of 3.6% on last year) with
the announcement of the half-year results on 9 November 2004.

The improvement in Group sales provides confidence that our enhanced selling and
marketing activities are increasingly effective and this investment will
continue.

Contacts:

Ian Mason           Chief Executive                         01865 204000

Jeff Hewitt         Deputy Chairman / Finance Director      01865 204000

Diana Soltmann      Flagship Consulting Ltd                0207 886 8440

Andy Berry          Flagship Consulting Ltd                0207 886 8440


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