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    United States construction equipment exports continue to improve, according to AEM figures

    Oct. 1, 2003
    United States construction equipment exports continued to improve in 2003 with the industry shipping more than $1.86 billion worth of machinery to global

    United States construction equipment exports continued to improve in 2003 with the industry shipping more than $1.86 billion worth of machinery to global markets during the second quarter of this year, a 13.2% increase compared with the first quarter and a 12.6% gain over April — June 2002 figures, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

    While exports improved during the second quarter, the construction equipment manufacturing industry's trade deficit worsened, with a trade imbalance of $214 million of imports over exports for April — June, compared with a deficit of $64 million for first-quarter 2003.

    Exports of construction equipment to South American markets totaled $170 million for second-quarter 2003, a 20.6% increase over the previous quarter and a gain of 4.3% compared with second-quarter 2002 totals. Construction machinery exports to Central America for second-quarter 2003 were $181 million, an 18.4% gain versus first-quarter 2003 and a 12.3% jump compared with its purchases a year ago.

    Asia took delivery of $224 million of construction equipment in second-quarter 2003, a 9.2% decline compared with the previous quarter and a 14.5% decline versus second-quarter 2002.

    Exports to Canada totaled $726.5 million for the second quarter of 2003, a 23.7% increase over the previous quarter, and a 28.6% gain compared with second-quarter 2002. Exports to Europe totaled $369 million, a gain of 11.5% over first quarter 2003 and an 18.5% increase compared with 2002.

    Africa took delivery of $89 million worth of construction equipment during April — June 2003, a gain of 48.3% over the previous quarter and a 35.3% increase compared with second-quarter 2002. Australia/Oceania markets declined 18% versus the first quarter with purchases of $104 million, which was also 18.2% lower than its construction equipment purchases for second-quarter 2002.