BT Industries says the industrial truck market in 2004 had the highest level ever of truck orders, with the highest increase in demand in the North American market.

In BT's financial report, the world market in 2004 was estimated at 736,000 units compared with last year's 634,000.

Both the warehouse truck and counterbalanced truck segments reported substantial gains, with the global market for warehouse trucks, BT's core segment, up 13 per cent to 282,000 units. Counterbalanced trucks were estimated to have a global market volume of 454,000 units, up 18 per cent.

The group's total 2004 orders amounted to SEK 13,294 million, a 10 per cent increase from 2003. Net sales were SEK12,636 million, a 6 per cent increase.

Of the group's net sales, 60 per cent were in Europe, 34 per cent in North America and 6 per cent in the rest of the world. Income after net financial items increased 10 per cent to SEK808 million.