US construction machinery export sales up 43% in 2011

Exports continue to help US construction equipment manufacturers stay open for business

US construction equipment exports increased by 43% in 2011, compared with the previous year for a total US$23.5 billion of machinery shipped to other nations, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). This follows growth of 28% in 2010 after a 2009 decline of 38% in the depths of the recession.

Exports to Australia/Oceania led the way in 2011 with a 73% gain as the region took delivery of US$2.8 billion of US-made construction equipment. Construction machinery exports to South America increased by 39% in 2011 with purchases worth US$4.3 billion, and exports of construction equipment to Central America gained 23% and totalled US$2.0 billion.

Export sales to Asia grew by 44% to US$3.1 billion for 2011, and Africa’s purchases of US construction machinery increased by 41% to US$1.3 billion last year. Exports of construction equipment to Europe gained 49% for a total US $2.8 billion in 2011, and export business to Canada grew 40.5% and totalled US$7.2 billion.

‘Export sales continue to help US construction equipment manufacturers stay open for business and sustain American jobs, especially with the domestic construction sector still recovering,’ said Al Cervero, AEM’s vice-president, construction sector.

The top 10 countries buying the most US-made construction machinery in 2011 were: (1) Canada – $7.2 billion, up 40.5%; (2) Australia – $2.7 billion, up 79%; (3) Mexico – $1.6 billion, up 28%; (4) Chile – $1.3 billion, up 45%; (5) Brazil – $951 million, up 25%; (6) China – $903 million, up 81%; (7) Colombia – $811 million, up 38%; (8) South Africa – $683 million, up 72%; (9) Russia – $652 million, up 96%; and (10) Peru – $572 million, up 31%.