UK construction equipment sales climbed 30% above 2020 levels in Q1 2021, as March figures nearly double those seen in March the previous year
Construction equipment sales this year were 2.9% above 2019 levels and suggest significant momentum in the market in the early months of the year, according to the latest construction equipment statistics exchange.
While concerns remain that equipment sales could be held back this year due to supply-side constraints for some components, there is growing confidence that sales should see a strong recovery for the full year.
Growth in sales driven by excavators
The pattern of sales for the major equipment types in the first quarter of the year shows that the growth in sales is still being driven by excavators. Mini/Midi excavators (up to 10 tonnes) and other crawler excavators saw the strongest growth compared with Q1 last year.
Amongst the other equipment types, road rollers and telehandlers (to the construction industry) also experienced strong recoveries in the first quarter.
The construction equipment statistics exchange covers sales on a regional basis in the UK and N Ireland. Sales in the South East were the strongest (+39%), while Wales saw the weakest sales in the first quarter, still 2% below last years’ levels.
Sales in the Republic of Ireland are also recorded in the statistics scheme and saw a more modest increase in March compared with the UK. This resulted in Q1 sales this year ending up at 12% above 2020 levels.
