Skip to main content

French Q1 sales of equipment hit record levels

Sales of construction equipment in France are at the highest levels ever observed in the country, according to CISMA, the French trade association. In the first quarter of 2019 six new records were set. Compared with Q1 2018, the market is up 10%. This performance can be explained by the rise in sales to rental companies of nearly 13%, notes CISMA. The mobile elevating work platform sales reached a peak of 3,545 units in the quarter – highest ever, beating the previously best years of 2000-2001 an
May 22, 2019 Read time: 3 mins
Q1 2019 sets new historical quarterly records | Source: Cisma
Sales of construction equipment in France are at the highest levels ever observed in the country, according to CISMA, the French trade association.


In the first quarter of 2019 six new records were set.

Compared with Q1 2018, the market is up 10%. This performance can be explained by the rise in sales to rental companies of nearly 13%, notes CISMA.

The mobile elevating work platform sales reached a peak of 3,545 units in the quarter – highest ever, beating the previously best years of 2000-2001 and 2007-2008.

Sales of compact earthmoving equipment increased by 14% overall compared to the same period a year ago. This performance can be explained by the strength of sales to rental companies (+32%) but also by the good performance of sales to other businesses, excluding rental – this was up 4%.

The mini crawler excavators rose by just over 10% with 3,910 units sold. Sales of crawler excavators from 6-12tonnes saw a significant growth of 18%. Wheel loaders of 5500kg and under rose by 23%. Sales of compact loaders jumped by 59% in Q1 this year compared to Q1 2018.

Sales of telehandlers sales for construction and industry grew overall by 42% compared to the first quarter of 2018. Sales to rental companies rose sharply.

Reasons for the rise appear to be the continually improving French civil engineering sector is still improving with the Greater Paris project among the work that is boosting the market. Activity is driven by local government investment spending, private investment and ongoing infrastructure projects. Among these are the French high-speed broadband plan and the French motorway plan.

The current activity in the building sector remains also strong. The level of order bookings is high, and is currently estimated to be at around six and a half months.

Above all, renters remain very active and explain a significant part of the performance observed in the first quarter.

However, it should be noted that the “fiscal measure of exceptional deduction” whereby companies can claim exceptional depreciation of capital goods (asserts) against taxes to be paid ended in April.

CISMA is a Paris-based trade association for companies in France that produce and sell equipment for construction as well as the steel industry and handling sector. It also includes component suppliers. CISMA represents the interests of its 200 members - SME, SMI and subsidiaries of international groups - that employ around 31,000 people in France. These businesses export 58% of their production and generate nearly €9 billion in annual revenue.

Related Content

  • French earthmoving market remains strong in Q1 2019
    May 7, 2019
    The French market for earthmoving equipment remained very strong in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest data compiled by CISMA. Q1 sales rose 12% compared to the same quarter 2018 with that for compact equipment up by 14%. CISMA - the French trade association - noted that this performance is mostly due to the strength of sales to rental companies (+32%) and the good performance of non-rental sales. Sales of crawler excavators are up by 11%. Sales of wheeled loaders grew by 23% t
  • Excavator sales in France inch upwards 1% for 2018
    April 17, 2019
    The French excavator market rose by 1% in 2018 after a hike of 23% the year before, according to the French trade association CISMA. Wheel excavators increased by 31% while mini excavators decreased by 1%. Sales of crawler excavators were up 4% but the wheel excavator market increased by 9%. With 17,600 units sold last year - both wheel and crawler excavators - France remains the third biggest market in Europe with 16.5% of market share. It is the seventh largest market in the world. By category
  • CISMA: French road construction market expected to rise
    January 17, 2018
    Construction and maintenance of roads in France is expected to grow again this year – by 3% - after several years of decline, according to CISMA. Aggregates production is also expected to be up around 3.5%, as well as civil engineering by 3%. Civil Engineering activity is recovering at last, notes CISMA, especially thanks to work in the Paris area. “Across the country, cities large and small have adopted the construction of modern tramways that has led to improved traffic circulation, more convenient
  • French road roller market growth
    March 25, 2019
    The French road roller market has increased for the past three years and rose 37% in 2018. Growth was also strong in 2016 with +31% and then +22% in 2017. The market has exceeded 2,000 units. Sales were supported by distribution networks, but the road roller market is also a rental market. Renters were very active in 2018. Sales levels in general for 2018 in the road construction equipment industry were never higher, according to CISMA the French trade body for construction, infrastructure, the steel