Mid-year equipment exports show growth

Pit & Quarry, Nov, 2004

Exports of American-made construction machinery totaled $4.2 billion for the first half of 2004, a 19 percent increase compared to the first half of the previous year, according to data released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

All major world regions bought more equipment in January through June of 2004 than they did for the same time period in 2003, with Australia and South America leading the way. The AEM trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Department data with other sources into a quarterly export trends report.

South America took delivery of $500 million worth of construction equipment, a 61 percent increase over its 2003 first-half purchases. Exports of construction machinery to Central America totaled $386 million, a gain of 16 percent compared to January through June 2003.

Exports to Australia/Oceania rose 71 percent to total $395 million for the first half of 2004, and exports of construction equipment bound for Asia totaled $533 million, a 13 percent increase compared to the first half of 2003. Africa purchased $187 million worth of U.S.-made construction equipment, a gain of 25 percent over mid-year 2003.

Construction machinery exports to Canada also increased by 11 percent for January through June 2004 and totaled $1.46 billion. Europe was the only world region not showing double-digit increases with its purchases of $724 million worth of equipment, a 3 percent increase compared to the first half of 2003.

The top ten export destinations for American-based produced machinery in the first half of 2004 were: Canada ($1.46 billion), Australia ($372 million), Mexico ($299 million), Belgium ($173.5 million), Chile ($165 million), Brazil ($127 million), Germany ($126 million), China ($121 million), United Kingdom ($85 million) and South Africa ($80 million).

At the annual Sentinels of Safety awards program, MSHA and the National Mining Association recognized eight U.S. mining operations for their 2003 safety record. To qualify for the award, a company must compile at least 30,000 employee work-hours during the year without a lost-time injury or fatality. Winners included three aggregates operations:

* 5R Constructors LLC, College Park, Ga.

* Schoolhouse Mine Operation, Unimin Corp., Spruce Pine, N.C.

* Davenport Sand Mine, Rinker Materials Corp., Davenport, Fla.

Sentinels of Safety awards announced by Department of Labor, NMA