European Equipment Market Highest In A Decade

Construction equipment sales in Europe last year hit their highest level for a decade, according to market research and forecasting company, Off-Highway Research. Sales rose 10% to 177,694 units, OHR reported.

This took demand to its highest level since the global financial crisis, although it was still some 15% lower than the remarkable peak of 210,000 units sold in 2007. However, the company said the boom of the mid 2000s took the market to unsustainably high levels, resulting in a prolonged and painful crash. At the current level, European equipment demand is regarded by OHR as extremely healthy.

“Equipment sales increased in every Western European country apart from Switzerland last year and the market was more buoyant than many expected,” said Chris Sleight, Off-Highway Research managing director. “Sales could have been even higher were it not for supply issues and long lead times for some equipment types.

“We believe that 2018 represented the peak of the current cycle. However, we expect only a moderate downturn and overall demand should stay at good levels.”

Countries displaying growth well above the average of 10% last year included Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. However, volumes in these countries still remain relatively low in historic terms. In contrast, growth was below trend in Norway and Sweden, but these countries have reached remarkable highs in terms of the number of machines being sold.

France, Germany and the UK accounted for 64% of European equipment sales last year, and all three enjoyed good growth. Most notable was Germany, where demand for construction equipment was a staggering 43,106 units last year. This total has only been bettered once, in 1992 at the height of the post-reunification building boom. Mini and crawler excavator sales in Germany have never been higher and demand for telescopic handlers is also at record levels.

In France demand has bounced back well from the downturn seen in 2015 thanks to tax breaks and infrastructure investment. At 32,920 machines sold last year, demand was 64 per cent higher than the low point seen just three years previously.

Meanwhile, construction equipment sales in the UK reached a post-crisis high of 38,020 units last year, despite the uncertainty around Brexit. A good housebuilding market and a number of major construction projects are providing stability in the market.

Key findings form the new data and forecast will be discussed at Off-Highway Research’s breakfast briefing on Tuesday April 9 at bauma in Munich, Germany. exhibition. Click here for more details and to book a spot.