A total of 1476 machines were imported in the month, the third consecutive month of decline, according to Skelton Sherborne’s Shipping Index. However, the free-on-board value of the equipment imported was $158 million, a 20% increase on December. The increase in value was helped along by the arrival of 20 scrapers and 62 dump trucks during the month.Excavators under 12 tonne was again the leading equipment category by volume, with 398 imports.“Seasonally this is the quietest time of the year so we are still not reading anything too sinister into these figures,” Skelton Sherborne said. “Traditionally March is where we normally see a rebound in volumes post Christmas. “We are experiencing very strong growth in used equipment volumes currently particularly from the USA and auction houses.”
