Crawler excavators steady in France

The market for crawler excavators in France remained stable in 2018 compared to 2017, but mini excavators, which account for 73% of the total crawler excavator market, posted a slight decline of 2%.

The latest figures are from CISMA (the French association of equipment manufacturers of construction, infrastructure, steel and handling equipment industries), which said the decrease was explained by a 15% decline in sales to renters.

It added that the mini excavator market was close to historical record levels.

CISMA said that a 3% increase in sales of earthmoving equipment in France made 2018 the best year since the market crash of 2008, although compact equipment fared less well than larger machines.

Heavy earthmoving equipment was up 8.6% to 5,100 machines, it said. On the other hand, the increase was much lower for compact equipment, at 2% – a total of 17,250 machines.

The market for excavators of more than 6 tonnes in operating weight continued to improve, said CISMA, with a rise of 4%. While excavators between 6 to 12 tonnes increased by 1%, sales of crawler excavators over 12 tonnes increased by 7% at 2,377 units.

France is the third largest market in Europe for construction machinery.