Construction equipment market – a misleading picture
10.02.2026The construction equipment industry is starting in 2026 with a mixed picture. Even though the figures are more positive than in previous years, the industry continues to face a difficult political and economic environment.
Annual meeting of the VDMA Construction Equipment Association in Frankfurt: The industry sees light at the end of the tunnel – but major challenges remain
© VDMA
Order intake picked up noticeably towards the end of the year and was up 18 % overall in 2025 compared with the same period of the previous year (January to December). In terms of turnover, however, the industry recorded a slight price-adjusted decline of 1 %, remaining just below the level of 2024.
Construction equipment manufacturers expect nominal sales growth of 5 % for the current year 2026. However, this only represents a moderate recovery after a decline of 21 % in 2024 (compared to 2023) and a rather stabilising phase last year. At the annual meeting of the specialist group VDMA Construction Equipment on 30 January 2026 in Frankfurt, the mood was predominantly optimistic – at least orders in public construction are picking up thanks to € 500 billion in infrastructure investments – but the current political and economic situation is causing noticeable uncertainty among manufacturers. The dominant issues continue to be overregulation in Europe and unfair competition. Pressure is growing due to uncontrolled cheap imports from China, which are increasing as a result of significant local overcapacity. The unpredictability of the US administration and the massive expansion of steel tariffs in the US are causing concern. European construction equipment exports to the United States fell by almost 30 % in 2025.
Franz-Josef Paus, Chairman of the Construction Equipment Division, once again appeals to Berlin and Brussels: “We cannot emphasise this enough: the regulatory jungle is no longer sustainable for our industry. Following the decline in exports to the USA, Europe is now our most important market. However, while we are faced with excessive bureaucracy, imports from China enter the market freely and unchecked. This unequal treatment puts us at a massive disadvantage.”
Joachim Strobel, Chairman of the VDMA Construction – Equipment and Plant Engineering Association, also calls for action: “It is encouraging that we have come through the economic downturn and that order intake is picking up. However, the truth is that the weak earnings situation leaves little room for necessary investments. Nevertheless, we are committed to Europe as a business location and are taking responsibility. We also call on politicians to finally solve the structural problems that lie ahead.”
