The market for exports of U.S.-made construction machinery closed out 2006 with a gain of more than 34% compared with 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 U.S.-made construction equipment. Construction machinery exports to South America increased almost 17% in 2006, with purchases worth $1.9 billion.
Exports of U.S. 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/Oceania took delivery of $1.4 billion of construction equipment from the U.S. in 2006, an increase of 26%.
The two world regions showing overall declines for U.S. construction machinery exports were Asia and Europe. Exports to Asia dropped 11% in 2006 and totaled $1.5 billion, while U.S. 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 U.S.-made construction machinery in 2006 were: (1) Canada - $5.0 billion, up 22%; (2) Australia - $1.3 billion, up 27%; (3) Mexico - $925 million, up 33%; (4) Chile - $532 million, up 3%; (5) Brazil - $436 million, down 21%; (6) Belgium - $364 million, down 45%; (7) South Africa - $362 million, up 53%; (8) Singapore - $272 million, down 46%; (9) China - $266 million, up 12%; (10) Colombia - $262 million, up 74%.
