November trailer sales drop versus October

Dec. 24, 2012

New trailer orders slid back slightly month over month in November, according to the lastest "State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers" report published by ACT Research Co.

There were 22,306 net orders on the books in November 2012. The comparison was against a very strong October.

“November also saw a 15% decline month over month in production,” says Frank Maly, director of commercial vechicle transporation with ACT Research.

“We believe November’s build rate is understated because more holiday days were taken than we projected. However, quotation interest remains solid. Fleets appear to be positioning themselves to move when the time is right."

ACT is a worldwide leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicles
industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market -- and the China CV market.

China’s GDP decelerated to 7.4% in the third quarter, the slowest pace 2009, according to the most recent China Commercial Vehicle Outlook, jointly published quarterly by ACT and SIC, China’s State Information Center. It includes an overview of the China economy and a review and forecast of China’s heavy- and medium-duty truck and bus markets, as well as analysis of OEM market shares within China.

“Domestic factors as well as the European debt crisis continued to exert a negative
influence on China’s GDP,” says Maly. “China’s real estate investment slowed, leading to a rapid decline in overall investment growth."

Domestic sales of Chinese heavy-duty trucks continued downward in Q3. Bus market sales also took a turn for the worse after the bright 4.7% year over year sales recorded last quarter.

China’s GDP growth is expected to remain in the 8% to 9% range through 2017.

For more information on ACT and the "China Commercial Vehicle Outlook report, visit www.actresearch.net. And for the latest information on new and used truck sales, check out these links:

"Classes 5-8 preliminary orders fall in November."

"Used truck sales growth 'will be a stretch."