---------Speech Delivered by Mr. Qi Jun, Chairman of China Construction Machinery Association at “BICES 2019 New Year Media Symposium”
Ladies and Gentlemen, Media Friends,
First of all, I wish all media friends a happy new year, good health and a smooth job! Thanks for your contribution to the development of the industry in the past 2018!
In 2018, China’s construction machinery industry experienced a sustained and healthy development. The sales of nine major products increased by 25.5% year-on-year. Among them, the sales of excavators exceeded 200,000 units, surpassing the previous sales peak and becoming a new record. The loader sold nearly 120,000 units, an increase of more than 20%. The sales of truck cranes exceeded 30,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 58%. Forklift sales reached a record high of 597,000 units. Of the nine products, only the paver fell slightly down 2.97%.
Export growth was good in 2018, and total exports of nine major products increased by 34.4% year-on-year, higher than the increase in total sales. Since the customs data is not available, it can only be analyzed by the number of sales. Among the main export products, 167,023 forklifts were exported, up 32.8% from 2017, 19,100 excavators were exported, up 97.5% from 2017, and 23,260 loaders were exported, up 18.9% from 2017.
In 2018, the whole industry achieved great results overall. From January to November, the Association's key contact enterprise groups achieved sales growth of 12.9%. The expected growth target of 10% at the beginning of the year can be achieved. The elevator industry is expected to be flat. It is expected that the industry-wide comprehensive growth will not exceed 12.9%. Overall, the construction machinery industry achieved good results in 2018. This achievement has benefited from the following aspects:
First, the country's sustained and stable investment in fixed assets is the basic guarantee for the overall demand for construction machinery. Second, it has achieved initial results in the transformation and upgrading of the industry and high-quality development. New technologies and new products have expanded market coverage. Third, the renewal cycle brings the renewal demand. Fourthly, the high-pressure environmental protection policy further restricts the use of old equipment with high-emission and brings in new machine sales demand. Fifth, the “Belt and Road” construction further plays a role in export a high growth; Sixth, the demand from the promotion and application of new construction methods with safer, more efficient, and more environmental protection; Seventh, the demand for short-boards in small towns and rural infrastructure.
It is expected that the whole industry will keep sustained growth in 2019, the growth rate will be about 10%, higher than GDP growth. At the same time, a series of factors such as equipment replacement caused by four-stage emissions will have an impact. We are confident that the industry will continue to be optimistic in recent years. The bauma China 2018 expo has reached the largest scale in history since 2004, which shows that the whole industry is full of confidence in the future. I believe BICES will make new development this year. We hope that our media friends will vigorously publicize and introduce the relevant information of BICES in time. We will work together to make BICES ‘s work well. Since I participated in BICES in 1994, many new and old media have come with us and contributed to the success of BICES. Here I want to thank the media friends for their attention and support to BICES and the industry.
Thank you for your participation and wish you a happy Spring Festival!