Softer forklift market has Toyota still top Softer forklift market has Toyota still top
Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) retained overall national forklift market leadership for the sixth consecutive year.
But few laurels are likely to be rested on as unit sales last year fell 2,778, or 16.8 per cent, to 13,740 from 16,518 in 2013.
Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA) industry sales figures for 2014 show TMHA delivered in excess of 4,450 forklifts in 2014.
Though it was a fall of 272 units, this represents a total market share of 32.4 per cent, an increase of 3.8 per cent on 2013 figures.
The result was more than 680 units ahead of nearest rival Crown, which has 27.4 per cent of the market, up from 26.7 per cent, but which was down 640 to 3,771 units.
The dominant pair was followed by Linde, which also lifted its market share, from 13.2 per cent to 14.1 per cent.
However, the only brands to record sales growth were Hyster, up 50 units and 4.6 per cent, and Clark, with 11 units and 2.7 per cent.
Among the biggest percentage falls was Cargotec, which lost 51 per cent of sales with 47 fewer units, followed by Nichiyu (45.9 per cent, 100), Yale (35.6 per cent, 150) and Powerlift (30.9 per cent, 344).
Battery-electric forklifts accounted for 50.7 per cent of Toyota forklift deliveries.
It was number one in forklifts in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
TMHA executive vice president and COO Steve Takacs says the strong results provide significant momentum going into the new year.
“The strong sales results are pleasing to see, particularly as we start the new year in a strong financial position,” Takacs adds.
“Our extensive national TMHA branch network is growing. We recently opened five new branches, with more to follow in response to business growth, and we are recruiting additional technical and management staff.
“We lead the industry with our apprentice program and in-house training, and are currently recruiting a new intake of apprentices for 2015.”
TMHA plans to release new models into the market this year, one of which being a new range of Toyota 8-Series battery-electric sit down reach trucks.
“It all adds up to another big year for TMHA, and we look forward to maintaining our number one position in the Australian material handling market,” Takacs says.