--- title: Construction equipment market insights July 2026 description: Get the latest insights on the construction equipment market, including sales trends, import/export data, and industry forecasts. Correct as of July 2026. image: https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-july-2026#main-content) ![CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png?width=3390&height=1817&name=CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png) - [Home](https://thecea.org.uk) - [About](https://thecea.org.uk/about) Show submenu for About - [Governance](https://thecea.org.uk/governance) - [Meet the Team](https://thecea.org.uk/meet-the-team) - [CESAR Scheme](https://thecea.org.uk/cesar-scheme) Show submenu for CESAR Scheme - [NCATT](https://thecea.org.uk/ncatt) - [Membership](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-membership) Show submenu for Membership - [Join the CEA](https://thecea.org.uk/join-the-cea) - [Member Directory (Private)](https://thecea.org.uk/directory) - [Member Network (Public)](https://thecea.org.uk/member-network) - [Terms and Conditions](https://thecea.org.uk/membership-terms-conditions) - 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[Make UK Affiliate Partner](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/cea-joins-forces-with-make-uk-as-an-affiliate-partner) - [News](https://thecea.org.uk/construction-equipment-news) Show submenu for News - [CEA News](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news) - [Industry News](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news) - [Member News](https://thecea.org.uk/member-news) - [International](https://thecea.org.uk/international) Show submenu for International - [International Events](https://thecea.org.uk/international-construction-equipment-events) - [Trade Missions and Procurement](https://thecea.org.uk/trade-missions-procurement) - [CECE](https://thecea.org.uk/cece-membership) - [UK Pavilion at bauma Munich 2028](https://thecea.org.uk/bauma-munich-2028) - [Events](https://thecea.org.uk/events-networking) Show submenu for Events - [UK Events](https://thecea.org.uk/uk-construction-equipment-events) - [International Events](https://thecea.org.uk/international-construction-equipment-events) - [Members' Forum](https://thecea.org.uk/members-forum) Show submenu for Members' Forum - [Members' Forum Documents](https://thecea.org.uk/members-forum-documents) - [UK Pavilion at bauma Munich 2028](https://thecea.org.uk/bauma-munich-2028) - [Benefits](https://thecea.org.uk/business-benefits) Show submenu for Benefits - [Enginuity](https://thecea.org.uk/enginuity) - [Robinson Grace HR](https://thecea.org.uk/robinson-grace-hr-consultancy-partner) - [Cranfield School of Management](https://thecea.org.uk/cranfield-school-of-management) - [WorkForce](https://thecea.org.uk/workforce) - [globalbridge](https://thecea.org.uk/connecting-talent-and-opportunity-with-gb) - [ELITE Consultancy Network](https://thecea.org.uk/elite-consultancynetwork) [ All posts ](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/all) July 16, 2026 # Construction equipment market insights July 2026 ![Picture of Paul Lyons](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.png?width=50&name=Paul%20Lyons.png)   Paul Lyons  ·  3 minute read Welcome to the latest edition of our bi-monthly market insights blog which brings together all the key aspects of the market insight reports that I provide. I will be producing this overview and summary every other month to ensure that you don’t miss any of the key information we are sharing with members.  ## Equipment Sales  After a weak start to the year, retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment continued to show growth in May. Sales increased by 6.5% compared with the same month last year, and as a result, sales in the first five months of the year are now 4.2% up on last year during the same period. Unit sales of equipment have reached nearly 13,000 units so far this year. [View the latest report on equipment sales for May (members only)](https://thecea.org.uk/market-insights-sales). The June sales update will be published in the last week of July, so keep an eye out for that report. The latest quarterly update on UK imports and exports of construction equipment for Q1 this year was published in May. Imports and exports of construction and earthmoving equipment saw different experiences in the first quarter, with imports showing a significant increase compared with Q4 last year, while exports saw a decline. UK imports saw a 28% increase in tonnage shipped in Q1, following growth of 4.2% during 2025 compared with the previous year. Japan remained as the leading source, accounting for 25% of total imports on a tonnage shipped basis in the first quarter. China was in second place in the country ranking, reaching between 14% and 15% of tonnage shipped in Q1. Exports of equipment showed a 9% decline in Q1 compared with Q4 last year based on tonnage shipped. However, this saw trade staying at higher levels than the rest of last year and the highest since the first half of 2024. The USA remained as the most significant destination for UK exports in Q1, with tonnage shipped reaching 25% of total exports. This was an increase on the 21% share seen for the USA in 2025, with the lower level being due to import tariffs being implemented in August. UK trade in construction equipment in Q2 2026 should be available at the end of August. ## The Construction Market  The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) provides a summary of all things construction from bricks to cement and is a good indicator of what is happening in the wider sector. The latest Index in June showed a minor pick up on May’s levels at 38.4 and business optimism reached its highest level since March. Comments in the latest survey highlight shrinking order books within the sector, rising costs and ongoing economic and political uncertainty as the key factors limiting activity. Not surprisingly all sectors continued to show a decline, but Civil Engineering (22.1) and Housebuilding (35.9) were the weakest in June. [View the PMI for the UK construction market for June](https://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/54011bdef342414c814371c370a46b5d). The [Office for National Statistics (ONS)](https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/constructionindustry/bulletins/constructionoutputingreatbritain/april2026) has published the latest data on construction activity up to April this year. March and April showed higher activity levels than the early months of the year, but output in the first 4 months was 1.7% lower than the same period last year. Output for the whole of last year has been revised downwards by the ONS from 1.8% to only 0.7%. However, this was still the fifth consecutive year of growth in output. The [Construction Products Association (CPA)](https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/news-media-events/news/2026/may/cpa-releases-spring-forecast/) published their Spring forecast in May. In their latest update, overall construction output is expected to fall by 2.6% this year. This is a significant change to the Winter forecast which anticipated growth of 1.7% this year and reflects the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The latest forecast anticipates that the impact of the war could hit construction activity for the next 12 to 18 months. Despite the uncertainty, the CPA still expects significant growth in infrastructure, where contracts and funding are already in place. The latest construction market review published by [Glenigan](https://www.glenigan.com/report/the-glenigan-construction-review/) in May indicates some improvement within the industry with planning approvals, contract awards and new project starts all showing an increase in the latest 3 months compared with the previous 3 months. The latest report indicates a cautious outlook for the rest of the year shaped by wider economic and political issues.  There are many other key reports and indicators available on the [construction equipment market insights](https://thecea.org.uk/construction-equipment-market-insights) area of the CEA website. These are all member only resources, so I encourage you to take a look. I trust you find this summary useful and a good reminder of all the key industry statistics and indicators that are available to you as CEA members. If there are any other measures or metrics you would like me to take a look at, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. *You may also be interested in:* - [*Construction Equipment Technical Insights*](https://thecea.org.uk/technical) - [*Construction Equipment News and Insights*](https://thecea.org.uk/construction-equipment-news-and-insights) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-july-2026) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-july-2026) [twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-july-2026) ## Related posts [![Paul Lyons, Market Insights Consultant](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-january-2026) [Market Insights](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/tag/market-insights) #### [Construction equipment market insights January 2026](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-january-2026) [![Paul Lyons, Market Insights Consultant](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-march-2026) [Market Insights](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/tag/market-insights) #### [Construction equipment market insights March 2026](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-march-2026) [![Paul Lyons, Market Insights Consultant](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-may-2026) [Market Insights](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/tag/market-insights) #### [Construction equipment market insights May 2026](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-may-2026) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Paul Lyons", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/author/paul-lyons-market-insights" }, "dateModified" : "2026-07-16T13:28:49.890Z", "datePublished" : "2026-07-16T13:19:06.000Z", "headline" : "Construction equipment market insights July 2026", "image" : [ "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Paul%20Lyons.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://thecea.org.uk/cea-news/construction-equipment-market-insights-july-2026", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_TwoCol.png" }, "name" : "Construction Equipment Association" } } ```