Skip to main content

European outlook for construction machine sector

Industry confidence – at least for the near future - is supported by performance of the European market, according to the latest CECE Barometer. Stable development at high levels in northern and western Europe underpins a continuing yet slowing recovery in southern Europe and fairly weak growth in Central and Eastern Europe. There are around 350 global OEMs operating in Europe and more than 85% of their worldwide production is done in this region. Half of these 350 OEMs have all their production in Europe.
February 9, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Industry confidence – at least for the near future - is supported by performance of the European market, according to the latest 3399 CECE Barometer. Stable development at high levels in northern and western Europe underpins a continuing yet slowing recovery in southern Europe and fairly weak growth in Central and Eastern Europe.

There are around 350 global OEMs operating in Europe and more than 85% of their worldwide production is done in this region. Half of these 350 OEMs have all their production in Europe. European sales top €40 billion annually.

“Construction equipment sales in Europe recorded double-digit growth in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015,” said Holz. “The pick-up in demand extended to all construction equipment sub-sectors, with building construction equipment taking the lead, and to almost all markets in Europe.”

Despite the strong demand in the first half of the year, industry sentiment looking forward is more subdued. The CECE business climate index was back at positive levels in September, having digested a steep dip in July following the UK’s vote in June that was in favour of leaving the European Union, and after eight months of gradual improvement since the autumn of 2015.

Concrete equipment manufacturers are currently the most optimistic sub-group within the CECE Barometer, while road equipment manufacturers are least optimistic about growth. Demand from the mining sector continues to be very weak, which has a restraining effect on construction equipment sales.

But Holz remains optimistic. “Provided that general conditions within the sector and its customer industries do not change substantially in the coming months, CECE expects full-year growth for the European market of between 5-10%.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • India’s massive demand for construction machines
    June 17, 2016
    India is the new focus for the world construction industry market. In 2015 there was a change in perspective in Asia, with demand for machines in China dropping in terms of construction growth. India posted growth of 5.3% during 2015, while China achieved growth of 4%. This change at the top has been confirmed by the SaMoTer-Verona Outlook. This is a construction sector observatory group set up in partnership with Prometeia, the international economic consulting and research firm, with the support of Una
  • The new agile world of the construction equipment industry
    June 22, 2015
    while worldwide for 2015 a crystalball would be helpful, in Europe the sector has already listed specific priorities it wants to tackle, and among these are the upcoming emissions regulations (see separate story), external trade and access to foreign markets, and market surveillance.
  • Plans in hand for bauma 2016 exhibition, with positive market outlook
    May 18, 2015
    The organisers of the bauma exhibition in Germany predict a positive future for the construction market in 2016. Large increases are expected in the North American market while there are also pPositive trends in the Near and Middle East. Last year North America and Europe were the most dynamic construction machinery markets in the world according to data from the bauma organisers. Some market experts believe that this trend could continue in 2015. This is one of the reasons why the market in construction
  • German VDMA organisation members optimistic
    February 7, 2020
    The German VDMA construction equipment manufacturers organisation members are optimistic for the future.