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

  • China looks to the future with major highway plans
    February 15, 2012
    China is still moving ahead with plans that will give it the world's biggest highway system. Patrick Smith reports. As China's economy grows even more, keeping the country on the move has become a priority for the government. While the country has made great strides over the past decade in improving its infrastructure, the number of vehicles has also increased rapidly, and in some instances restrictions have been placed on them.
  • CISMA: French road construction market expected to rise
    January 17, 2018
    Construction and maintenance of roads in France is expected to grow again this year – by 3% - after several years of decline, according to CISMA. Aggregates production is also expected to be up around 3.5%, as well as civil engineering by 3%. Civil Engineering activity is recovering at last, notes CISMA, especially thanks to work in the Paris area. “Across the country, cities large and small have adopted the construction of modern tramways that has led to improved traffic circulation, more convenient
  • S&P Global Rating: credit stability for toll road operators
    August 14, 2017
    The outlook is generally stable for business conditions and credit quality for toll roads worldwide, according to the latest survey from ratings agency S&P Global.The exception is the US where the overall outlook is “positive”, noted the report S&P Global Ratings' 2017. The 21-page report considers broad economic and industry-specific trends. It looks at economic conditions, demographic trends and geopolitical risks that affect the movement of people and goods. “We expect stable or improving, but still frag
  • Bauer records high group revenue growth for Q3 at 22%
    November 15, 2017
    Bauer, equipment maker for ground investigation work, reports third quarter 2017 total group revenue up 22% on the previous year to just over €1,398 million. The German company said sales revenues increased by 27.5% to €1,265.6 million. However, the order backlog was €977.3 million that, while still high, was down from €1,019.0 million the previous year. This was due to a high double-digit million order backlog taken off the books after the sale of shares in a real estate company at the end of 2016.