Construction machinery: Positive first half – but only for road building Unacea data highlights downturns in the earthmoving field
The first half-year was positive only for the road machinery segment, which posted a 23% increase on a trend basis (with sales of 432 units) according to data analysed by Unacea based on the sales results of earthmoving and road work machinery manufacturers and importers. Earthmoving machinery posted a setback of 17% compared to the first half of 2023, with sales of 9,256 units. Overall, the first six months of 2024 saw the Italian market take 9,688 construction machines, a downturn of 16% compared to the first half in 2022.
These figures emerge from data analysed by Unacea (Italian Construction Machinery Union), partner of Veronafiere for SaMoTer. The 32nd International Construction Machinery Exhibition is scheduled 6-9 May 2026. The first edition of the Paving Show & Congress (Veronafiere 12-13 March 2025) is an exhibition-conference event exclusively for road paving operators.
Improved sales in the second quarter of 2024 – according to data analysed by Unacea – despite being boosted by a +27% for road machinery (with +53% highlighting the performance on the roller market) – did not suffice to reverse the trend on a declining market.
“The construction machinery market in Italy posted a downturn in the first six months of 2024, despite growth between the first and second quarters,” said Michele Vitulano, President of Unacea, who was re-elected for the next two years at the last AGM in May. “We must bear in mind that sales in previous years were very high, so that the current setback was expected and is considered physiological.”
As for the earthmoving machinery section, the only field posting positive figures in the first half of this year concerned dozers (37 units sold, +37% compared to the first half of 2023), compact skid steers (714 units, +9% on a trend basis) and articulated dumpers (71 units sold, +73%); The road machinery segment, on the other hand, saw rollers post a 50% increase in sales with 307 units placed on the market. These figures, as expected, do not suffice to relaunch a first-half of 2024 which saw the construction machinery sector post a setback of 16% compared to the first half of last year.
Sales down in 2024. The latest forecast published by CER based on Unacea data suggests that the road machinery market may fall back by 11.3% at the end of the year, in line with the general downturn in the construction machinery sector. Analysts suggest that the causes of this slowdown in sales are to be found in a physiological decline after the high market levels achieved in recent years, together with the termination of calls for tenders related to Industry 4.0, which previously ensured a significant boost to sales. The effective exclusion of the sector from Transition 5.0 incentives will also have a negative impact. All these topics that will be addressed during Paving Show & Congress scheduled at Veronafiere 12-13 March 2025.