Excellent news coming from the UK construction equipment industry. Q1 retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment have shown strong growth, which is set to create a fantastic atmosphere at the upcoming Plantworx Construction Exhibition for equipment manufacturers. In March, the sales of this equipment reached remarkable levels, with a 15% increase compared to the same month last year. Consequently, the total sales in Q1 have reached 9,500 units, demonstrating a nearly 9% increase compared to Q1 2022. This fantastic performance of the industry is a testament to its resilience and adaptability. This great news not only reflects the robust growth of the sector but also brings a positive impact on the Plantworx Construction Exhibition. As a result, equipment manufacturers participating in the event can expect a heightened level of interest and enthusiasm from attendees, creating an excellent platform for showcasing their products and services. We are looking forward to a successful and exciting Plantworx Construction Exhibition, further fueled by the strong growth in UK construction equipment sales. Paul Lyons, CEA's (Construction Equipment Association's) Senior Data Analyst reports... Following strong sales at the end of last year, feedback from CEA members is suggesting that sales in Q1 were still benefitting from orders placed last year on long lead times. It is expected that sales will slow down during the year when the “catch-up” is complete and the impact of more moderate construction activity is experienced. The pattern of sales for the major equipment types is shown in the second chart below, comparing Q1 2023 levels with the first quarter last year. This shows percentage changes in sales for the different machine types. Crawler excavators and wheeled loaders have shown the strongest growth in Q1 at 15% up on last year. The most popular product, mini/midi excavators have shown the weakest growth at 4.5% above the levels seen last year. The pattern of sales on a regional basis in the UK and N Ireland is shown in the map below for Q1 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022. This continues to show a mixed pattern across the regions. The strongest sales in Q1 were in Wales (+32%) and the South East (26%), while the weakest sales were in North Ireland (-14%) and the North West (-7.5%). Equipment sales in the Republic of Ireland are also reported in the statistics exchange. Sales in March were also very strong at 20% above 2022 levels. This took sales in the first quarter to 11% above last year’s levels and represents a strong recovery after sales last year ended up 8% below 2021 levels. The Plantworx Construction Exhibition hosted by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) is just a matter of weeks away! The working construction and technology event is taking place once again at the East of England Arena in Peterborough from 13^th to 15^th June 2023.  REGISTER NOW... *The construction equipment statistics exchange is run by Systematics International Ltd. This scheme is run in partnership with the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the UK trade association.