Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Strong through 2015

The latest market forecast for Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing is favorable and, according to the forecast’s author, Hal Vandiver, MHI's executive consultant, economic fundamentals will support MHEM expansion through the rest of 2014 and 2015.

• MHEM New Orders grew 8.8% in 2013. The outlook is for growth of 8.0% to 9.0% for 2014 and 2015.
• MHEM Shipments grew 7.8% in 2013. Shipments will grow 4.5% to 5.0% in 2014, and 9.0% to 11.0% in 2015.
• MHEM Domestic Demand grew 8.3% in 2013. Domestic Demand (Shipments plus Imports less Exports) are forecasted to grow 4.5% to 6.0% in 2014, and 10.0% to 11.0% in 2015.
• Import growth in 2013 was 3.9%, down from 17.9% in 2012. Export growth was flat in 2013, down from 12.4% in 2012.
• MHEM Imports are forecasted to grow 6.0% in 2014 and 9.0% in 2015. Exports are expected to rebound modestly beginning mid-2014 to grow 4.0% and continue to grow in 2015 around 6.0%.

Capital spending by major segment calls for improvement in key elements of non-residential and fixed investment is expected to continue through 2017. The key is in the mix by year:

• Industrial Equipment strong 2014 - 2015
• IT strong 2015 – 2016
• Commercial & Healthcare Structures strong in 2015 - 2017.