U.S. Construction Exports Are Booming

I read an article last week - BTW, I found it on Twitter - from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers reflecting that the U.S. construction industry exports for 2011 increased by 43%.  That number alone is very impressive but the drill down to specific regions is even more eye-opening.

Here are some of the specifics:

• Australia/Oceania  sales of $2.8 billion with an increase of 73%
• South America  $4.3 billion in sales  39% increase
• Central America  $2.0 billion  23%
• Asia  $3.1 billion 44%
• Aftica  $1.4 billion 41%
• Europe  $2.8 billion 495
• Canada  $7.2 billion  40.5%

These are staggering numbers both in volume and in growth.  It gives you some idea of the size of this industry, which is the largest user of hydraulic components. 

This is great news for several reasons.  It shows signs of a very strong U.S. construction machinery industry.  It helps the U.S. trade balance, and it shows that we DO make things in America.

When I couple this data with the very intersting presentation by Ken Gray of Caterpillar on their keen awareness of the global market, I get the big picture about this BIG machinery.