News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

Compact sales bounce back

2 November 2020

Compact sales bounce back

Strong demand driven by the housing market is behind a bounce-back in sales of mini and midi excavators after a decline caused by the pandemic, according to data from the Construction Equipment Association (CEA).

During Q3, sales of excavators weighing up to 10 tonnes were 7% above 2019 levels, reducing the shortfall in year-to-date sales to only 13% below last year.

The CEA expects sales for the full year across all plant categories to be between 25% and 30% below last year, given a modest recovery in Q4 which is traditionally the quietest period.

Anecdotal evidence from plant hirers that Alan Guthrie OnHire has spoken to recently confirms that contractors are busy.

Further good news is that the construction industry has been deemed an essential service under the second national lockdown in England from this Thursday, 5 November, and so this activity should continue.

Indeed, some hirers are reporting waiting times of weeks or, even, months for certain machines to become available for delivery. Few people would have forecast that when the first, and more severe national lockdown was implemented back on 23 March.


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