Material handling equipment orders contracted 37.4 percent in 2009 and are forecast to grow 6.0 percent to 8.5 percent in 2010, according to the latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Forecast (MHEM) released by Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).
“Industrial production activity is increasing even though factory operating rates (utilization) remain very low by historical comparison,” said Hal Vandiver, MHIA executive vice president of business development. “MHIA believes that demand created as the economy shifts from recession into recovery mode (filling supply chain pipelines, re-establishing inventories, and responding to pent-up demand) is the principal impetus for improvement over the next few quarters in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.”
In addition, material handling equipment shipments contracted 34.4 percent in 2009, and are forecast to grow 1.0 percent to 2.0 percent in 2010. Domestic demand (shipments plus imports less exports) contracted 34.7 percent in 2009 and will grow 1.0 percent to 2.0 percent in 2010. Exports and imports will improve in 2010 at about the same rate.
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.
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