Equipment sales up

Japan: Construction machinery sales by Japanese manufacturers in the fiscal year to March 31 increased +16.2% last year to JPY 1653 billion (US$ 15.6 billion), according to the Japanese Construction Equipment Manufacturers’Association (CEMA)

Exports were up +27.6% to JPY 950.3 billion (US$ 8.99 billion), with robust demand in North America and Europe. Exports to China sank about +40% due to the country's monetary tightening.

Domestic shipments grew for the second consecutive year, with an increase of +3.7% to JPY 703 billion (US$ 6.65 billion). Sales of truck cranes (+13.1%) and hydraulic excavators (+11.5%) saw the greatest increases.

In the month of March, construction machinery shipments by Japanese makers were up +16.8% compared to March 2004, the 30th consecutive monthly rise.