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

  • UK construction machine sales improve
    April 28, 2021
    UK construction machine sales have improved compared with last year.
  • Research highlights Italian construction equipment sector difficulties
    November 16, 2012
    Global turnover recorded by Italian construction equipment companies in 2011 totalled €2.69 billion. Despite their global turnover increasing by 6.4% in 2011 compared to levels achieved in 2010, Italian construction equipment company turnover is still down 42% compared to 2008. Details of Cribis D&B’s findings following research commissioned by the Unacea trade association were revealed during the recent Construction Equipment Day at Ecomondo Fair in Rimini, Italy. Further Cribis D&B figures for 2011 show
  • Liebherr sees steady performance worldwide
    June 8, 2015
    The Liebherr Group has seen a steady financial performance in 2014, with turnover reaching a healthy €8.823 billion, similar to the previous financial year. The company continued to invest in developing its operations, spending €816 million in expanding and modernising its manufacturing facilities and also strengthening the sales and service organisation. The number of employees has now risen to 40,839 in total. The €8.823 billion turnover was slightly lower, 1.6%, than for the previous financial year howev
  • JCB bullish with strong results
    July 22, 2016
    JCB reports strong financial performance despite the current tough trading conditions in most of the developing markets around the world. The firm says it has achieved underlying earnings of £214 million during 2015 despite the difficult market conditions and slower than expected growth in North American and European markets. According to JCB’s analysis, the global market for construction equipment dropped by 14% during 2015 overall. Market conditions in the first half of 2016 remain fragile with the except