Modest growth expected in Europe

European construction equipment manufacturers are expecting another modest increase in sales, around 6%, in 2012 compared to last year, according to Johann Sailer, president of CECE (the Committee for European Construction Equipment), speaking at the Intermat 2012 trade show in Paris.

"The industry's total turnover would then amount to €25 billion," he said, adding that the growth in Europe was coming mainly from north of the Alps while the outlook for the Iberian peninsula remained gloomy.

Mr Sailer said that 2011 had been a positive year for the industry. Compared to 2010, total industry sales increased by 19% to €24 billion.

"One third of the companies asked in our latest CECE survey said that in 2011, they had an increase in turnover of above 20%, regardless of their size, while only 7% of them noted a drop in sales."

He added that Poland, the Czech Republic and Italy, where national demand was quite weak, had developed below the EU average, while the opposite trend was observed in France, Germany and Scandinavia.

He said the CECE business barometer showed a positive trend, with two thirds of companies asked saying they expected company sales to grow further during the next six months, with only 10% forecasting a decrease.

Mr Sailer announced that the CECE Congress would be held in Berlin, Germany, on October 25 and 26, under a theme of Making It In Europe.