Exports continue to increase; Central America leadingbuyer

The market for exports of USmanufactured construction machinery closed out 2006 with a gain of more than 34% compared to the previous year, for a total of $13.7 billion-worth of equipment sold worldwide, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The AEM international trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Department data with other sources into a quarterly export trends report.

Exports to Central America led the way in 2006 with a 40.5% gain in 2006 purchases. The region took delivery of $1.3 billion-worth of construction equipment manufactured in the US. Construction machinery exports to South America increased almost 17% in 2006, with purchases worth $1.9 billion.

Exports of US construction equipment to Canada improved 22% in 2006 and totaled $5 billion. Construction machinery exports to Africa gained 34% in 2006, with purchases worth $640 million. Australia and Oceania took delivery of $1.4 billion of construction equipment from the US in 2006, an increase of 26%. The two world regions showing overall declines in exports were Asia and Europe. Exports to Asia dropped 11% in 2006 and totaled $1.5 billion, while exports of construction equipment to Europe were 12% lower than the previous year, for a total of $1.85 billion.

The 10 countries buying the most US-made construction machinery in 2006 were: Canada, $5 billion, up 22%; Australia, $1.3 billion, up 27%; Mexico, $925 million, up 33%; Chile, $532 million, up 3%; Brazil, $436 million, down 21%; Belgium, $364 million, down 45%; South Africa, $362 million, up 53%; Singapore, $272 million, down 46%; China, $266 million, up 12%; Colombia, $262 million, up 74%.