Liebherr sees troubled excavator market in China

Liebherr says the earliest the Chinese excavator market will recover is 2016, when new engine emission laws come into force. However, it said demand had improved this year in the lighter weight classes.

Speaking at the Bauma China exhibition, Armin Natter, general manager of Liebherr Machinery Service (Shanghai) said, “At the beginning of this year, some industry experts positively forecast a year-on-year increase of +3% in the Chinese excavator market. However, such modest growth is the result of rapidly growing demand for small and middle sized machines in the range of 8 to 14 tonnes, while demand for larger sizes is declining.

"Between January and October the domestic sales of excavators dropped by -16.2% on a year-on-year basis, with a total of 74,975 units. As forecast, total sales in 2014 will represent a fall of -46% from the peak level sales in 2011. Sales may only pick up again when new emission regulations take effect after 2016.”

He added that the wheeled loader market was also suffering, with a -15.8% decline in the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

The company is putting an emphasis on its larger excavators for the mining industry at Bauma China, with its display including 110 tonne class R 9100 excavator.