Skip to main content

VDMA optimistic for machine sales

The VDMA is the German equipment manufacturing association and says it is optimistic with regard to machine demand. The VDMA’s latest forecast for the construction equipment business segment in 2015 suggests market growth of 4%. According to the VDMA, the bauma 2016 construction equipment event in Munich in spring 2016 will also provide strong impetus for machine sales. German construction equipment manufacturers are more optimistic at the middle of the year than they were at the beginning – "even though u
July 16, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
Machine sales have grown, particularly for some equipment segments
The 1331 VDMA is the German equipment manufacturing association and says it is optimistic with regard to machine demand. The VDMA’s latest forecast for the construction equipment business segment in 2015 suggests market growth of 4%. According to the VDMA, the 688 bauma 2016 construction equipment event in Munich in spring 2016 will also provide strong impetus for machine sales.

German construction equipment manufacturers are more optimistic at the middle of the year than they were at the beginning – "even though uncertainty is the largest obstacle for us at present," according to Johann Sailer, chairman of the VDMA Association for Construction Equipment and Building Material Machines. The VDMA says that there has been double-digit growth in turnover by member companies throughout the sector in the first five months. Despite a damper in May, construction equipment manufacturers are correcting their forecast upwards for 2015. An increase in turnover of 4% to €8.7 billion seems achievable.

Construction equipment sales in Europe and North America have grown significantly in the first five months of the year, despite the fact that the Russian market has recorded a drop of around 70%. France too, once the second largest construction equipment market in Europe, is suffering a pronounced downturn with an above-average decline of 19% compared with the previous year. The drivers of business are the UK, Scandinavia and Germany. This year, manufacturers are expecting new momentum from Poland, too. Southern Europe is slowly catching up. Nonetheless, Europe still has to recover. “This is of central importance to us construction equipment manufacturers," Sailer said.

The North American construction equipment market is doing well and has already reached the pre-crisis level of 2006. The sector expects development next year to be rather flat. Good growth is coming from Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. China, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America, in particular, are falling short of expectations. When categorised by product group, there are significant differences in development. Demand for earthmoving machinery is disappointing and heavy machinery in particular has few customers due to the global mining crisis. But the trend is continuing upwards in concrete technology. The current situation is still good in road construction machinery, too. After a strong start to the year, incoming orders throughout the sector are currently at minus 2% compared with the previous year. And turnover is positive.

Companies today are looking forward to 2016 with optimism. bauma will take place in Munich from 11 to 17 April. Every three years, the world's leading trade fair for the industry is considered a driver of new investments from customers worldwide.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Liebherr continues to grow despite tough trading conditions
    November 28, 2012
    Liebherr is weathering the current financial situation rather better than some other firms, having seen turnover increase 9.8% to €4.4 billion in the first half of 2012, compared with the previous year. According to Andreas Boehm, a member of the board of directors at Liebherr, turnover for the mining and construction operations saw gains of 7.7% to €2.84 billion in the first half of 2012, compared with 2011. He continued, “Turnover from our earthmoving machinery increased 14.4% to €1.07 billion.” However,
  • CEA: UK equipment sales show modest growth in 2018
    February 26, 2019
    Retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment in the UK market grew by 2% in 2018, despite a drop in the last quarter. Prior to the 8% reduction in sales in Q4 (compared with Q4 2017), the trend over the previous two years had been to show steady, but slowing growth each quarter (see graph). Retail sales in the UK market reached nearly 31,000 units, according to the Construction
  • Organisers of Italy’s conjoined Samoter-Asphaltica show are bullish for success
    January 16, 2014
    The organisers of the Samoter construction equipment show being held in the historic Italian city of Verona are bullish for the success of the event. This will be the 29th edition of Samoter, an international triennial exhibition focussing on earthmoving and site machinery. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the event, which will also co-host the Asphaltica exhibition for road paving, safety and infrastructures for the first time. Asphaltica is organised in cooperation with Siteb, the
  • Engine maker Deutz dumps full-year 2015 forecast amid poor trading
    September 16, 2015
    German engine maker Deutz Group said it will not meet its forecast for the current financial year. A sluggish second quarter with “very low” new orders means revenue is expected to fall by around 20% compared with the forecasted 10% drop, according to a corporate statement. “Consequently, the second half of 2015 will be significantly worse than the first half of the year,” the statement said. “Given the low level of business, Deutz will only be just about break even in terms of EBIT this year. Unt