‘Modest growth’ for UK equipment sales

UK construction equipment sales monthly. (Image: CEA)

Retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment continued to show modest growth in February compared with 2021 levels.

Equipment sales were 5% up on last years’ levels and took total sales to just over 5,000 units in the first two months of the year.

This represents a 7.5% increase on sales in January and February last year.

This slowing rate of growth in the early months of the year is in line with expectations, following the very high levels of sales recorded in 2021, which turned out to be a “record year”.

The pattern of sales for the major equipment types in the first two months of the year are shown in the chart below, compared with the same period last year.

This shows the percentage increases year on year, ranked from the highest to the lowest. Telehandlers (for the construction industry) are continuing to show the strongest growth, with sales at over 60% up on 2021 levels.

The weakest start to the year has been experienced by crawler excavators (over 10 tonnes) and road rollers, with both showing lower levels of sales compared with the beginning of last year.

The most popular equipment type in the UK, mini/midi excavators (up to 10 tonnes), is showing modest growth in the early months of the year at 3% up on 2021 levels.

Year on year UK construction equipment sales. (Image: CEA)

The pattern of sales on a regional basis in the UK and N Ireland is shown in the map below for the first two months of the year compared with the same period in 2021.

This shows higher levels of sales in most regions, with Yorkshire and the East Midlands the strongest, at over 30% up on last year.

Two regions showed lower sales compared with 2021, involving the East of England (-17%) and the West Midlands London (-3%).

Equipment sales in the Republic of Ireland are also reported in the statistics exchange.

Sales in February showed a bounce back, at 28% up on 2021 levels.

After a decline in sales in January, this has left sales in the first two months of the year at 6% up on last years’ levels.

Year on year UK construction equipment sales map. (Image: CEA)