Decline in US construction machinery exports tops 38%
US construction equipment exports fell by more than 38% in 2009, compared with the previous year, with a total US$12.8 billion of machinery shipped to other nations.
South and Central America as well as Asia were among the regions experiencing the smallest 2009 yearly declines in export sales from the US, although declines of between 30–50% were seen in other major world regions.
However, quarter-to-quarter declines steadily improved, ending with a fourth-quarter 2009 gain of 26% over the third quarter, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which consolidates US Commerce Department data for off-road equipment with other sources into quarterly export trend reports.
‘Exports have literally been a lifeline for the construction equipment industry, which saw US business plummet more than 40% last year and unemployment soar to more than double the national average,’ said AEM president Dennis Slater. ‘Global trade has been a significant source of industry expansion in recent years, and many economies are now rebounding faster than the US.’
The AEM says export sales to South America declined 29% to US$2.4 billion in 2009, compared with 2008, while Central America took delivery of US$1.3 billion of US construction equipment, a 34% decrease. Exports to Asia dropped 35% to US$2 billion.
Export business to Europe declined 51% to US$1.5 billion last year, while Africa recorded purchases of US$986 million, a drop of 29%. Exports to Australia/Oceania decreased 46% to US$962 million.
The top 15 buyers of US-made construction machinery in 2009 were:
South and Central America as well as Asia were among the regions experiencing the smallest 2009 yearly declines in export sales from the US, although declines of between 30–50% were seen in other major world regions.
However, quarter-to-quarter declines steadily improved, ending with a fourth-quarter 2009 gain of 26% over the third quarter, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which consolidates US Commerce Department data for off-road equipment with other sources into quarterly export trend reports.
‘Exports have literally been a lifeline for the construction equipment industry, which saw US business plummet more than 40% last year and unemployment soar to more than double the national average,’ said AEM president Dennis Slater. ‘Global trade has been a significant source of industry expansion in recent years, and many economies are now rebounding faster than the US.’
The AEM says export sales to South America declined 29% to US$2.4 billion in 2009, compared with 2008, while Central America took delivery of US$1.3 billion of US construction equipment, a 34% decrease. Exports to Asia dropped 35% to US$2 billion.
Export business to Europe declined 51% to US$1.5 billion last year, while Africa recorded purchases of US$986 million, a drop of 29%. Exports to Australia/Oceania decreased 46% to US$962 million.
The top 15 buyers of US-made construction machinery in 2009 were:
- Canada – $3.7 billion (down 41%)
- Mexico – $1 billion (down 28%)
- Australia – $922 million (down 47%)
- Chile – $763 million (down 16%)
- Brazil – $513 million (down 29%)
- China – $487 million (up 15%)
- Colombia – $392 million (down 17%)
- Belgium – $360 million (down 48%)
- South Africa – $353 million (down 49%)
- Peru – $319 million (down 20%)
- Saudi Arabia – $238 million (down 44%)
- Singapore – $214 million (down 48%)
- Russia – $209 million (down 58%)
- India – $181 million (up 55%)
- Venezuela – $165 million (down 57%).
