Heavy Machinery Imports Spike

by Jim Wilson - last modified Mar 30, 2012 11:44 AM

Although imports of Australian heavy machinery fell by 21% in February compared to January this year, overall, imports are strongly trending up, according to the latest update of the Skelton Sherborne Shipping Index.

For instance, 910 units of heavy machinery were imported in February 2009, in comparison to 4511 units in February 2012. That difference of 3,601 units represents a fourfold increase in volumes.

Imports of heavy machinery appeared to spike in January 2012, having peaked just shy of 6,000 units, after having slumped in December to approximately 2,500 units. It should be noted that a “line of best fit” indicates that both the December and January figures are anomalous outliers and that the data for February indicates the continuation of an existing upward trend.

Road making, paving and other public works equipment" still make up by far the bulk of the imports, with 2306 units imported in February 2012, followed by excavators of less than 12 tonnes (460 units), then excavators and draglines of more than 12 tonnes (332), and wheel loaders (317).

Imports of bulldozers increased by 25% and excavators and draglines of more than 12 tonnes increased by 46%, while imports of wheel loaders decreased by 24%.

Imports of off road dump trucks in the form of unassembled larger units are up by 63%, though assembled units are down by 28%.

Skelton Sherborne’s data set included its own data and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

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