US equipment exports climb

The value of construction equipment exported from the US stood at US$ 7.4 billion for the first six months of the year, a +15% increase on the same period last year. The figures were released by the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and are based on its own data, along with US Commerce Department figures and other sources.

AEM senior vice president Al Cervero said, "These numbers are encouraging, especially after the double-digit declines of last year. With US markets still sluggish, they underscore the importance of global trade to the construction equipment industry."

The biggest regional climb in shipments of US-built machines was to Australia/Oceania, where sales were up +37% to US$ 679 million worth. There was also a +32% rise in shipments to Canada, which is by far the largest foreign market for US-made construction equipment, at US$ 2.4 billion for the first six months of the year.

Besides Canada and Australia, other major markets in the first half of the year included Mexico at US$ 549 million (up +8%), Chile (US$ 462 million, up +9%), Brazil (US$ 376 million, up +74%), China (US$ 242 million, up +15%) and Colombia (US$ 189 million, up +13%).

However, there were some countries to which shipments fell, most notably South Africa, Peru and Belgium. The AEM said as a region, Europe was flat, taking US$ 777 million of US-built equipment. Africa meanwhile saw a -20% decline to US$ 423 million.