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2. Weakness to endure in Italian backhoe loader segment

Sales of backhoe loaders in Italy are expected to stay between 200 and 250 units per year for the next five years, as buyers turn to other types of compact equipment.

The market for backhoe loaders in Italy peaked at 1,476 units in 2007, prior to the global economic crisis, and had been as high as 4,450 machines in 1991.  However, the last decade has seen an almost relentless slide in these machines’ popularity.

According to Off-Highway Research’s new report on the backhoe loader market in Italy, a variety of factors have driven this decline, including the removal of tax incentives and the low utilisation of a large population of machines. However, changing tastes and preferences among equipment buyers have played a bigger part.

“Fundamentally the decline is a result of buyers now preferring alternative compact machine types: mini and midi excavators; telescopic handlers; skid-steer and compact tracked loaders,” said the report.

Off-Highway Research’s study on the Italian backhoe loader segment forms part of the company’s European Service, and is now available to subscribers. More information on the European Service is available here. The report is also available to buy as a stand-alone product. Click here for more details.