Trading Statement

Electrocomponents PLC
23 March 2004

                                            Embargoed until 7.00am 23 March 2004



                             Electrocomponents plc

                                 Trading Update



Ahead of forthcoming meetings with investors and analysts we are updating the
market on recent trading.

The Board expects that our profit before tax and goodwill amortisation for the
year ended 31 March 2004 will be around £106m.

Since we announced our first half results in November, the economic backdrop in
our major markets has improved, but not evenly. On a like-for-like basis
(ongoing businesses, adjusted for exchange rates and trading days) our monthly
sales are running ahead of last year.

Allied, in the United States, has had accelerating sales growth, which is now
well into double digits, with stable gross margins. Our Japanese business has
continued to grow strongly and profitably. In China we have successfully
launched a higher service (next day delivery) offer in Shanghai and this has
generated high growth in that area, though regulatory constraints on imports
continue to restrict our overall growth in China. Monthly sales in Europe have
recently returned to year-on-year growth and several businesses are growing
well. France, however, suffered a small decline in sales due to teething
problems following the systems implementation in June, which are being resolved.
In the United Kingdom, our monthly sales performance has fluctuated in recent
months, reflecting the patchy recovery in UK manufacturing. The overall
year-on-year decline in the UK has improved from the first half and currently
sales per day are running level with last year. We have continued to focus on
building our UK business in the service and public sectors of the economy.

During the second half, the group's e-commerce sales continued to grow by about
40% on last year and are now approaching 17% of our total sales.

Gross margin has increased again in the second half, though the rate of increase
is slowing. We have managed costs tightly, whilst sustaining our selling,
marketing and systems investments. Operating margins have consequently been
robust and cash flow has been even stronger.

The full results for the current year will be announced on 26 May 2004.

Contact:
Ian Mason        Group Chief Executive                            01865 204000
Jeff Hewitt      Deputy Chairman / Finance Director               01865 204000


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange