We expect economic fundamentals to favorably support material handling equipment manufacturing expansion through 2015 and 2016,” says Hal Vandiver, MHI executive consultant.

In addition, material handling equipment shipments grew 4.5 percent in 2014 and are forecasted to grow 11 percent in 2015 and 11 percent in 2016 as backlogs are reduced. Domestic demand (shipments plus imports less exports) grew 5.4 percent in 2014 and are forecasted to grow 10 to 11 percent in 2015 and 9 percent in 2016.

Import growth in 2014 was 5 percent, up a point over 2013. Export growth was flat in 2014, down from 12.4 percent in 2012. Material handling equipment manufacturing imports are forecasted to mirror domestic demand in 2015 and 2016. Exports are expected to be flat or show very modest growth in 2015 and 2016.

The forecast of material handling equipment manufacturing is released each quarter by MHI and looks 12 to 18 months forward to anticipate changes in the material handling and logistics marketplace.

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