Skip to main content

Russia one of Europe “growth engines” for construction equipment

Russia is one of the “growth engines” for the European construction equipment industry, says Ralf Wezel, secretary general of CECE, the European Construction Equipment Association. According to the CECE, one out of three tower cranes produced and sold in Europe are currently going to Russia. The Association says that Russian governmental and private projects in the oil and gas industry and in the infrastructure and housing sectors are stimulating demand, with building hoists, truck mixers, concrete batching
June 4, 2013 Read time: 4 mins
Exhibitions such as bauma in Munich reveal the strength of interest in European construction machines
Russia is one of the “growth engines” for the European construction equipment industry, says Ralf Wezel, secretary general of 3399 CECE, the European 3418 Construction Equipment Association.

According to the CECE, one out of three tower cranes produced and sold in Europe are currently going to Russia. The Association says that Russian governmental and private projects in the oil and gas industry and in the infrastructure and housing sectors are stimulating demand, with building hoists, truck mixers, concrete batching plants, mixing systems and concrete pumps all highly sought after for construction works. However, the CECE says that sales of road equipment have decreased considerably in the first quarter of this year.

“Despite this, Russia remains to be one of the growth engines for our industry”, said Wezel at 5848 CTT, Russia’s major construction equipment trade show taking place in Moscow from June 4 to 7.

The situation in Europe has not changed much in the first quarter of 2013, says CECE. While Southern Europe is waiting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, Western and Northern Europe are remaining better off. According to recent CECE figures, sales of earthmoving and road equipment dropped by 20 and 30% respectively compared to the same period the year before, and the bottom is not yet hit in some Southern European countries. In 2007 the combined market share of Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece accounted for almost 25% of European sales, but in Q1 2013 this number only amounts to 3.5%. The CECE says that building construction equipment remains the only sub-sector where slight growth can be seen, though this growth only comes from some regions like Russia, Scandinavia, Turkey or Germany.  

According to the CECE, the European construction equipment industry expects sales to improve significantly in the second quarter of this year, as the long winter had delayed construction activity and investments. The CECE says companies also reported a very good order intake at and after 688 Bauma 2013. The Association’s business barometer confirms this positive trend. Increased confidence of European companies about future sales pushed the business climate index of May over the zero line. However, the CECE believes that even with an optimistic scenario of good growth in the next quarters, it will be difficult to compensate the early deteriorations over the year, particularly for earthmoving and road equipment.

In 2012 the European construction equipment industry increased their turnover by 3.4% reaching a volume of €25 billion. For 2013 it is expected that the overall sales will stay on the level of 2012. The CECE says that European manufacturers are expecting to compensate the drop in European demand by increased sales outside Europe, where most markets are supposed to show an upward trend.

During CTT 2013, CECE has reiterated its desire for a fair competitive trading environment and open markets for the European construction equipment industry. Only under these conditions, says CECE, can the best technology be taken to countries to improve infrastructure, living and working conditions, to save costs and to lower bad impacts on the environment. Presently in Russia non-Russian companies are said by CECE to be currently suffering from the disposal fee that the Russian government imposed in September 2012, payable for each wheeled vehicle imported to Russia or manufactured in Russia. CECE says that although it supports the approach of the Russian government to ensure ecological safety in the Russian Federation subject to balanced and economically justified rates, the Association, via the national Russian member association AEB, also advocates equal treatment towards all manufacturers. In addition, CECE identifies the need for revision of the Government Resolution taking into consideration specificity of the construction equipment manufacturing, recycling processes, and economic effect of the disposal fee rates for this machinery on the Russian economy. CECE and AEB are currently working with the Russian Ministry of Trade and Industry on amending the legislation.

Andrey Komov, chairman of the AEB Construction Equipment Committee, said, “We hope that the Russian Government takes into consideration the AEB recommendations and corrects shortcomings of the resolution on recycling fee with respect to the construction equipment industry”.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK’s cause for concern
    June 25, 2012
    Mineral Products Association (MPA) results for the first quarter of 2012 indicate a substantial reduction in sales of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt, confirming new GDP figures showing that declining construction activity has triggered the UK’s latest recession. Compared with the same period of 2011, sales volumes of crushed rock and sand and gravel aggregates declined by 13% and 12% respectively in the first three months of 2012, and sales volumes of ready-mixed concrete and asphalt fell by 9
  • Decarbonising off-highway machines in Europe
    June 5, 2025
    CECE and CEMA are issuing a joint statement on decarbonising off-highway machines in Europe.
  • Russia's road map ahead
    March 5, 2012
    Overall, Russia is to benefit from a major highway investment programme. The Federal Transport Development Programme will feature a budget of $21.5 billion for the 2010-2015 period. Some $15.1 billion is to be allocated for highway construction and repairs. Russian city St Petersburg and the surrounding the Leningrad region will see the start of major investment in infrastructure during 2011. The road sector will benefit strongly, with projects underway including the southern section of the Western High Spe
  • Cifa focuses on new technology for 2014
    March 11, 2014
    In 2014 Zoomlion-owned Cifa plans to manufacture a further 15 of its innovative hybrid Energya 8 and 9 plug-in truck mixer prototypes to add to its two existing models. The globally renowned concrete equipment sector firm also aims to sell the first of these new plug-in truck mixer models next year. Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in Cifa and Zoomlion products over the last five years, the Energya 8 and 9 models, the latter of which was launched at bau