SLIGHT DIP IN FORKLIFT TRUCK SALES

MEDEA, the association of handling equipment distributor companies, has released data for the first half of 2013 that suggest the year could close with sales of around 12,220 machines in Spain.
6,503 forklift trucks and goods handling equipment units were sold in the first half of the year, as compared to 6,914 in the same period of 2012 (a drop of 5.94%). The equivalent for 2011 is 7,106 units.

Although the figures for the first half of 2012 and for the year as a whole were very similar to those of 2011 and significantly better than those of 2010, a slight drop in sales has been noted in the first half of 2013.

Studying the data by product families, a slight upturn can be observed for engine-driven counterbalanced forklift trucks, and a slight drop in sales of indoor vehicles such as pallet trucks, stackers and retractable forklift trucks.

However, if macroeconomic forecasts remain stable and capital flows are encouraged by loans, we can still be hopeful that this improvement will benefit the market for goods handling machinery in logistics environments, highly sensitive to credit and credit terms, and things could soon look up. ULMA Forklift Trucks has in fact begun the second half of the year with a considerable increase in orders received.

We now have to wait until September 26, when the customary round table meeting will be held for managing directors and other top officials from the main sector brands – including ULMA Forklift truck Trucks, which will be represented by Ángel Sánchez – to receive these figures and other fuller information and the market analysis, and come to more relevant conclusions on the expected situation at the close of the year and the prospects for 2014.