Considerable shift in export markets for German construction equipment and building materials machinery manufacturers in the first quarter
![>>1 German exports of building materials machinery in the 1st quarter 2009, with prior year comparison [in 1 000 €]](https://www.zi-online.info/imgs/101466735_eb15cb9166.jpg)
In the first four months of 2009, the incoming orders of the German construction equipment and building materials machinery manufacturers fell by 59% in real terms compared to the prior-year period (construction equipment: –58%, building materials machinery: –62%). Sales of the construction equipment manufacturers, who had already been hit hard by the crisis back in 2008, fell by 52% from January to April, only the manufacturers of building materials machinery were able to increase their turnover by 27% compared to the first four months of 2008, thanks to an overhang of orders from last year.
The recent sales developments have also led to a change in the ranking of the major export markets. For the first time, China is in first place thanks to a hefty plus in exports in the first quarter. Furthermore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia became more important in relative terms for the German construction equipment and building materials machinery manufacturers. Meanwhile Russia, Great Britain and Spain have slipped down the rankings, Spain no longer being one of the 15 most important export countries.
Especially the previously important sales markets of German manufacturers – France, Russia, the USA and Great Britain – experienced some dramatic crashes.
There was less movement in the exports of building materials machines. Of the major sales markets, only the USA and India seemed weak at the beginning of the year 2009. Accordingly the two countries lost ground compared to France and the United Arab Emirates, which now occupy places three and four in the list of target countries of German building materials machinery exports. After the reduction of the cushion of orders, a collapse in the sales of building materials machinery can also be expected in the near future. Recent development of the incoming orders suggests that this will probably hit the export markets.
