Skip to main content

French earthmoving market on firm ground, reports CISMA

The French earthmoving equipment market increased by more than 3% last year - the best year since the market crash of 2008. Heavy earthmoving equipment is up 8.6% to 5,100 machines, according to data compiled by CISMA, a member of France’s Federation of Mechanical Engineering Industries (FIM). However, the increase is much lower for compact equipment, just 2% over in 2018 over 2017. Sales reached 17,250 machines in France, Europe’s third largest market for such equipment. For crawler excavators, th
February 15, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
The French earthmoving equipment market increased by more than 3% last year - the best year since the market crash of 2008.


Heavy earthmoving equipment is up 8.6% to 5,100 machines, according to data compiled by CISMA, a member of France’s Federation of Mechanical Engineering Industries (FIM).

However, the increase is much lower for compact equipment, just 2% over in 2018 over 2017. Sales reached 17,250 machines in France, Europe’s third largest market for such equipment.

For crawler excavators, the market remained stable in 2018 compared to 2017.

Mini excavators, which account for 73% of the total crawler excavator market, posted a slight decline of 2%. The decrease is explained by a 15% decline in sales to renters. Nonetheless, the mini excavator market is close to historical record levels.

The market for excavators of more than 6 tonnes operating weight continued to improve, with a rise of 4%. Meanwhile, sales for excavators between 6-12tonnes  dipped by 1% but sales of crawler excavators over 12tonnes jumped 7% to 2,377 units.

Related Content

  • Innovative solutions to earthmoving needs
    January 3, 2013
    Several manufacturers are offering improved earthmoving machines, with more to come - Mike Woof reports. One of the most notable developments comes from Caterpillar, with the unveiling of a hybrid excavator in the shape of its 336E H model. The machine is having its public launch at the bauma exhibition in Spring 2013 and will start rolling out of the factory in March 2013, while customers will be able to place orders from February 2013. Unlike other hybrid excavators on the market at present, the Cat 336E
  • Strong equipment exports are aiding Italian construction equipment manufacturers
    May 18, 2012
    Details from the Italian construction equipment manufacturing asscoaition, UNACEA, show that domestic machine sales are still falling, while exports keep on growing. However exports are growing at a slower rate than in 2011. Over the first quarter of 2012, 1,820 construction machines were sold on the Italian market, a drop of 22.4% from the same period in 2011. These included 1,734 earthmoving machines, a fall of 22.4% compared to the first quarter of 2011, while there were 40 road machines sold, a drop of
  • Wacker Neuson bullish with strong results
    May 12, 2021
    Wacker Neuson is bullish with strong results for the start of 2021.
  • Dutch road deaths plummet
    August 24, 2012
    Dutch road deaths have nearly halved in the last 15 years, according to new figures by the country’s central statistics bureau CBS. There were 661 road deaths in the Netherlands in 2011, down 47% from 1,251 in 1996. For passenger cars over the same period there was a 73.5% decrease in road fatalities, from 609 to 221.