In Western Europe, the long-term trends of trailer demand is approximately 175,000 units per annum. The West European Trailer Market Report (March 2011) compiled by consulting group CLEAR, suggests that trailer demand in Western Europe will be back at this level by mid-2013, following the Global Financial Crisis. Currently, the Western European trailer market is half way back to this figure.
Throughout Europe, 77 percent of goods are transported by road, with the majority transported on a trailer pulled by a truck. The recent Global Financial Crisis, however, has resulted in low levels of demand for new trailers from 2009. The report, which forecasts up to 2015, suggests that these low levels can be expected to continue through to 2012.
In 2010, the trailer market in Western Europe increased by 10.6 percent. Although this would normally be considered a good result, the market had fallen by 52 percent in the 2008/9 period.
Contrary to this, the report has calculated that production increased by 47 percent as manufacturers began the process of restocking. Increased exports also showed promising signs.
During the recession, curtain-sided, pantechs and skel trailers were worst affected in this part of the globe; while refrigerated, tipper and tankers experienced lesser falls in demand.
15 countries were analysed in the West European Trailer Market Report (March 2011), however it was evident that trailer demand across these countries was very uneven. Trailer demand in four countries including France and Belgium continued to fall during 2010, while the UK and Germany saw double digit percentage growth. According to the report, all of the countries analysed should see further growth in 2012.
CLEAR is a consulting group working with companies in the automotive and transport markets.
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