Construction and earthmoving equipment sales in the UK grew by 1% in the third quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017.
This continues the trend of a slowing rate of quarterly growth this year compared with 2017, with growth last year in Q3 at 5%, according to the UK equipment statistics exchange.
The construction equipment statistics exchange was taken over by Systematics International, a specialist data processing company in 2017. This scheme is run in partnership with the UK’s trade body
In the first three quarters of the year, equipment sales recorded a total 4.2% growth compared with the same period in 2017, reaching over 24,000 units. There has been a consistent seasonal pattern of sales across the past three years, with Q2 remaining as the peak quarter of demand.
Overall, this means an encouraging position for the industry, against the background of a weak construction market, which is anticipated to show relatively flat output this year, notes the CEA.
Among the most popular machine types, crawler excavators - over 10 tonnes - showed the strongest growth in Q3. As a result, they are showing over 18% growth in sales in the first three quarters of the year.
On a year-to-date basis, mini/midi excavators - below 10 tonnes - are the next strongest product, showing over 5% growth in the first three quarters of the year.
Sales were weakest in Q3 for telehandlers, to the construction industry. This has resulted in sales for the first three quarters of the year falling below last year’s levels.
In contrast, sales of compaction rollers have continued to improve during the year. On a year-on-year basis rollers are now only 3% below last year’s levels in the first three quarters.
