Trading Statement

Electrocomponents PLC
23 September 2003


                                                          Embargoed until 7.00am

                                                               23 September 2003


                             ELECTROCOMPONENTS PLC

                                 TRADING UPDATE


Ahead of forthcoming meetings with analysts and investors we are updating the
market on trading since the last statement made at the Annual General Meeting on
18 July 2003.

The Board anticipates that our profit before tax and goodwill amortisation for
the half year to 30 September 2003 will be around £45m.

Since the Annual General Meeting, the Group's monthly sales have continued to be
broadly level with the same period last year on a like-for-like basis (that is,
adjusted for exchange rates and trading days of ongoing operations). Sales have
been slightly lower than expected in the UK and Europe. Allied, our business in
the United States, and our Asian and Japanese businesses have enjoyed good sales
growth. E-Commerce trading has again advanced strongly throughout the Group.

During the half-year we have continued to invest in developing the Group. We
have increased our marketing and selling costs by about £3m over the first half
of last year to drive future growth. As planned, the costs and depreciation
incurred by the implementation of our systems projects also rose by a similar
amount. In early June, the first implementation of the European integrated
system took place in France and its performance has met our high expectations.
These specific cost increases were partly offset by a higher gross margin than
last year and by reductions in other costs. Cash flow has been robust.

Leading indicators such as the Purchasing Managers Indices have been more
positive in recent months, but remain at levels that suggest no immediate
improvement in our major markets.

The results of the half-year to 30 September 2003 will be announced on 5
November 2003.

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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