Skip to main content

French earthmoving market remains strong in Q1 2019

The French market for earthmoving equipment remained very strong in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data compiled by CISMA. Q1 sales rose 12% compared to the same quarter 2018 with that for compact equipment up by 14%. CISMA - the French trade association - noted that this performance is mostly due to the strength of sales to rental companies (+32%) and the good performance of non-rental sales. Sales of crawler excavators are up by 11%. Sales of wheeled loaders grew by 23% t
May 7, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The French market for earthmoving equipment remained very strong in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data compiled by CISMA.

Q1 sales rose 12% compared to the same quarter 2018 with that for compact equipment up by 14%.

CISMA - the French trade association - noted that this performance is mostly due to the strength of sales to rental companies (+32%) and the good performance of non-rental sales.

Sales of crawler excavators are up by 11%. Sales of wheeled loaders grew by 23% this quarter compared to the same period last year.

The recovery of the heavy earthmoving equipment sector is continuing, a trend which began in 2015. Sales are up by 7%.

However, sales of crawler excavators remain weak – up by 1% only. Nonetheless, wheeled excavators are up 21%.

The Q1 results follows a 2018 full-year report that saw French excavator market rise by only 1% over 2017. But 2017 sales were up 23% over 2016. Last year sales of wheeled excavators increased by 31% while mini excavator sales decreased by 1%.

Sales of crawler excavators were up 4% but the wheeled excavator market increased by 9%.

With 17,600 units sold last year - both wheel and crawler excavators - France remains the third biggest market in Europe with 16.5% of market share. It is the seventh largest market in the world.

CISMA is a Paris-based trade association for companies in France that produce and sell equipment for construction as well as the steel industry and handling sector. It also includes component suppliers. CISMA represents the interests of its 200 members - SME, SMI and subsidiaries of international groups - that employ around 31, 000 people in France. These businesses export 58% of their production and generate nearly €9 billion in annual revenue.

Related Content

  • Manufacturing body CECE issues positive results
    March 12, 2015
    The European construction equipment manufacturer’s association, CECE, has released its strongly positive Economic Report for 2014. According to this report, equipment sales in the European market grew by 9% in 2014. However a flat sales growth is forecast for 2015. The report says that 2014 was a troubled, yet good, year for the European construction equipment industry. Sales on the European market grew by 9% compared to 2013, highlighting slight growth in construction. The European construction equipment m
  • Deutz achieves 40% new orders value increase in Q1 2013
    May 8, 2013
    Deutz has revealed a 40% increase in its new orders during Q1 2013 compared to the previous trading quarter. The Cologne, Germany-based diesel engine manufacturing giant said the significant new order rise represented a continuation of an encouraging trend that emerged in Q4 2012. New orders for Deutz were worth €388.5 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to new orders valued at €276.6 million in Q4 2012. The new order value for Q1 2013 was also in line with the €390 million reported for Q1 2012.
  • Liebherr sees strong performance
    February 28, 2012
    Liebherr reports steady growth in 2010, with turnover increasing 9%, a growth in its workforce and company investments of €544.1 million.
  • UK construction machinery sales continue to rise, reports the CEA
    May 24, 2017
    UK exports of construction and earthmoving equipment showed further growth in the first quarter this year, the highest level since Q2 2015. Sales topped nearly €812 million, according to the latest report from the UK’s Construction Equipment Association. Continued healthy export sales “can be attributed to both improving demand in some of the major overseas markets, as well as the benefit of the weaker £ exchange rate since the middle of 2016, following the Brexit referendum”, report the noted. In terms of