According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. construction machinery exports dropped 36 percent in the first half of 2009 compared to the first half of 2008. AEM says the U.S. shipped $6.4 billion for 2009, compares with $10.1 billion shipped at midyear 2008.
All world regions showed declines in construction equipment exports for 2009. Exports declined 53 percent in Europe for a total of $777 million, and dropped 45 percent to Canada with a total $1.8 billion. Exports to Asia totaled $939 million, a 30 percent decline. Exports to Central America dropped 21 percent to $662 million. Australia/ Oceania’s export purchases decreased 42 percent to $497 million and Africa took delivery of $528 million, a 24-percent drop.
The top ten countries buying the most U.S.-made construction machinery in 2009 were:
India came in at number 16 with $76 million, a gain of 33 percent from last year. Russia experienced the sharpest decline in U.S.-made construction imports with $67 million, a 71-percent decline from the first half of 2008.
