Material handling equipment orders are forecast to grow 2.0 to 3.5 percent in 2010, according to the latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing forecast (MHEM) released by Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA). The MHEM forecast of material handling equipment manufacturing is released each quarter by MHIA and looks 12 to 18 months forward to anticipate changes in the material handling and logistics marketplace.
“We are in the middle of a contraction this year, but the worst appears to be over,” said Hal Vandiver, MHIA executive vice president of business development. “The decline in new orders is now forecast to slow slightly in the last quarter of 2009 and hold the total year decline to 35.0 percent to 38.0 percent. We now believe that growth in the 2.0 percent to 3.5 percent range is possible in 2010.”
In addition, material handling equipment shipments are expected to contract 35 percent in 2009 and 5.5 percent 2010. Domestic demand (shipments plus imports less exports) will contract about 35 percent in 2009. Exports are forecast to decline in 2009 and return to growth in 2010. Domestic demand will be down slightly in 2010.
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