Skip to main content

Global machine sales expected to rise

A report by Off-Highway Research suggests that worldwide construction machine sales could increase 16% this year. On a global basis, sales of construction machines are expected to exceed 810,000 units in 2017, with a value of more than US$80 billion. The report says that most major territories will see growth during 2017. However China’s resurgence will be crucial, as crawler excavator sales in the country have more than doubled in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period last year.
September 13, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
A report by Off-Highway Research suggests that worldwide construction machine sales could increase 16% this year. On a global basis, sales of construction machines are expected to exceed 810,000 units in 2017, with a value of more than US$80 billion.


The report says that most major territories will see growth during 2017. However China’s resurgence will be crucial, as crawler excavator sales in the country have more than doubled in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period last year.

The Indian market remains strong, with 10% sales growth forecast for this year. India saw26% growth during 2016. The continued improvement will see total machine sales to India beat the previous record high of 54,065 units in 2011.

In Europe, sales of construction equipment in are expected to grow 2% this year to almost 145,000 units. This follows an 11% growth in 2016, which was driven by booming demand from Germany.

The North American market is expected to climb 8% to over 170,000 units. This would take it back to levels seen in 2014 and 2015, before market growth was disrupted by last year’s presidential election.

Similarly, in Japan, a 4% increase in equipment sales is expected, following a slump in demand last year.

Over the longer term, Off-Highway Research expects global construction equipment sales to rise to close to 900,000 units by 2021, with a value of more than US$90 billion in today’s terms.

Related Content

  • India plans major infrastucture investment
    February 10, 2012
    India says it turned its Commonwealth Games into a world-class success, and now it aims to do the same with its infrastructure. Patrick Smith reports. On October, 2010 India put itself on the world stage, and disaster appeared to loom as a catalogue of problems dogged its biggest ever sporting event. Costing nearly US$2 billion to stage, the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever were, according to some, in doubt.
  • India plans major infrastucture investment
    April 5, 2012
    India says it turned its Commonwealth Games into a world-class success, and now it aims to do the same with its infrastructure. Patrick Smith reports On October, 2010 India put itself on the world stage, and disaster appeared to loom as a catalogue of problems dogged its biggest ever sporting event. Costing nearly US$2 billion to stage, the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever were, according to some, in doubt. After years of planning some projects were incomplete, there were health scares and a br
  • Export focus for XCMG, with Latin America as key territory
    November 13, 2014
    Exports are crucial to XCMG’s growth and its aim to becoming a dominant player in the worldwide construction machinery market – Mike Woof writes One of China’s biggest construction equipment manufacturers, XCMG has a high profile, and particularly in the country’s home market. XCMG is a leader in key equipment categories such as concrete pumping and lifting technologies. The firm’s 4,000tonne crawler crane introduced two years ago has already proven its worth in a massive industrial construction appl
  • Export focus for XCMG, with Latin America as key territory
    January 6, 2017
    Exports are crucial to XCMG’s growth and its aim to becoming a dominant player in the worldwide construction machinery market – Mike Woof writes One of China’s biggest construction equipment manufacturers, XCMG has a high profile, and particularly in the country’s home market. XCMG is a leader in key equipment categories such as concrete pumping and lifting technologies. The firm’s 4,000tonne crawler crane introduced two years ago has already proven its worth in a massive industrial construction appl