UK consultancy Clear International has issued a new report forecasting the demand for heavy goods trailers in Western Europe until 2018.
According to CEO Gary Beecroft, the report was the first in two years that has not reported a downturn in the economic outlook. On the contrary, the forecast for the seven largest economies in Western Europe has now improved.
“The forecast for trailer demand in Western Europe is that it will increase by 15 per cent in 2014,” said Beecroft. “This forecast assumes a strong end to the year in the last quarter of 2014, but even without this, the market would still be up 10 per cent for the year.”
Six of the countries covered by the West European report will have trailer market growth of over 20 per cent, he added. “Five out of 15 countries will grow by more than 1,000 new trailers and the total growth over 2013 will be 20,000 units.”
New trailer demand is now expected to “almost match” the level of 2006 by 2016. “Trailer production, having fallen by 9.8 per cent from the 2011 level, will also have a double digit increase in 2014,” said Beecroft.