2017 CEMA Forecast: Conveyor Industry Shipments Rise

The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) reports that overall industry orders (bookings) for the first 6 months of 2016 decreased 0.93% compared to the same period in 2015, with total orders of $5.67 billion. CEMA estimates industry billed sales (shipments) for the first 6 months of 2016 increased 3.15% compared to the same period in 2015, with total shipments of $6.07 billion.

Unit Handling orders were up 2.95% and shipments were up 11.65%. In the Bulk Conveying area, orders were down 8.87% and shipments were down 13.56%.

CEMA tracks new orders and shipped sales volume in nine classes of unit handling equipment and four classes of bulk handling equipment.

The executives representing CEMA member companies who attended the Fall Meeting expressed some concern for the remainder of 2016. As a result of this concern, the forecast for flat shipments for 2016 remained unchanged from March 2016 forecast. CEMA President, Garry Abraham announced the results at the Association’s Fall Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.