Construction equipment manufacturers shipped more than $1.94 billion worth of machinery to global markets in the first quarter of 2004. This is an increase of almost 10% versus the previous quarter and an 18% gain over first-quarter 2003 exports of United States-made construction equipment, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Exports of construction machinery to South America rose more than 30% compared with the previous quarter to total $267 million, an 89% increase over first-quarter 2003 totals. Exports bound for Central America totaled $186 million, a 4% climb over the previous quarter and a 22% gain versus 2003's first-quarter totals.
The Asia marketplace was the only world region recording a drop in US construction equipment exports, with its purchases of $236 million a 5.5% decline from fourth-quarter 2003 and a 4% drop from first-quarter 2003.
Construction machinery exports to Europe rose slightly for first-quarter 2004 and totaled $337 million, gains of 3% and 2%, respectively, versus the previous quarter and first-quarter 2003. In other world regions for first-quarter 2004, exports to Canada improved 15% compared with the previous quarter to total $662 million, a 13% gain over first-quarter 2003.
Australia/Oceania purchased $175 million worth of US-made construction equipment, an 11% advance over the previous quarter and 37% over 2003's first-quarter totals. Exports to Africa totaled $78 million, a 1% gain over fourth-quarter 2003 and a 30% rise compared with first-quarter 2003.
The 10 nations taking delivery of the most US construction equipment in first-quarter 2004 were: Canada ($662 million), Australia ($168 million), Mexico ($136 million), Chile ($79 million), Belgium ($76 million) Colombia ($67 million), Germany ($65 million), Brazil ($61 million), China ($57 million), and the United Kingdom ($43 million).