UK construction machine sales see drop

UK construction machine sales have seen a drop for 2020 compared with 2019.
By MJ Woof October 29, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
UK construction machine sales dropped in 2020 compared with 2019
A new report from the UK’s Construction Equipment Association (CEA) reveals a drop in machinery sales of 17% for the third quarter of 2020, compared with the same period for 2019.

According to the report, construction machinery sales in the first three quarters of 2020 were 31% below those for the same time period in 2019. However, sales for the third quarter have shown an improvement on the position at the end of the previous quarter, when sales were 38% below 2019 levels.         

The improvement in construction machinery sales in September 2020 have helped to reduce the deficit compared with 2019. At over 2,600 units in September, they were only 7% below 2019 levels and can be considered the first month to see sales return to near normal levels since February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Sales in previous months since May 2020 have been on an improving trend, but were still showing major reductions compared with sales in the same month in 2019. The expectation now is that equipment sales for the full year might be in the range of 25% to 30% below the levels for 2019, if modest recovery continues in the fourth quarter, which is traditionally the quietest quarter of the year.
 
Sales of certain machines have been less affected than others
Sales of certain machines have been less affected than others
Looking solely at major equipment types, there has been a major drop in sales during the first three quarters of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. This shows a similar pattern to previous months with the most popular equipment type, mini and midi excavators (up to 10tonnes), continuing to see stronger demand than all of the other equipment types. Sales of mini/midi excavators in Q3 were 7% above 2019 levels, and reduced the shortfall in year to date sales to only 13% below 2019. Sales of many of the other major equipment types are still over 40% lower than 2019 levels on a year to date basis.                                 

The construction equipment statistics exchange also covers retail sales of equipment in the Republic of Ireland. In the third quarter, sales matched 2019 levels, and have reduced the shortfall in the first three quarters of the year to 19% below last year’s levels.
Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Italian machine sales slump
    October 15, 2020
    Italian construction and site vehicle machinery sales forecast to be down by at least 8.7% in the second half of 2020, after a 20% reduction in the first half of the year.
    Read More
  • Upbeat in Beijing for BICES number 15
    January 22, 2020
    This year’s BICES exhibition in Beijing showcased much machinery destined for export to emergent countries that are taking advantage of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
    Read More
  • Volvo Construction Equipment’s Q1 2015 sales down 5% due to weak Asia sales
    January 6, 2017
    An improvement in European and North American sales could not offset continued weakness in Asia leading to Volvo Construction Equipment sales falling by 5% year-on-year in Q1 2015. Sales in China in particular were less than half what they were in the same period of 2014, the Swedish sector giant said. “We are working to adapt to lower volumes and are implementing a series of measures to reduce cost levels. However, our efforts could not fully offset the significant drop in volumes,” said Volvo Const
    Read More
  • Volvo Construction Equipment’s Q1 2015 sales down 5% due to weak Asia sales
    April 23, 2015
    An improvement in European and North American sales could not offset continued weakness in Asia leading to Volvo Construction Equipment sales falling by 5% year-on-year in Q1 2015. Sales in China in particular were less than half what they were in the same period of 2014, the Swedish sector giant said. “We are working to adapt to lower volumes and are implementing a series of measures to reduce cost levels. However, our efforts could not fully offset the significant drop in volumes,” said Volvo Const
    Read More

Highlighted Content