Global demand for materials handling equipment rose 35% to 330,000 forklifts for the first four months of 2011 compared to the 245,000 units in the same period last year.

Attendees at Jungheinrich AG's 15 June annual general meeting in Hamburg, Germany also heard that all regions contributed to the increase, with growth rates differing significantly in some cases.

Europe, Jungheinrich's core market, recorded the strongest rise, growing by 40%. While Western Europe grew about 35%, demand in Eastern Europe jumped by 72%.

The Asian market expanded by 30%, with China contributing a 33% growth rate. The North American market also enlarged by 33%.

At the end of April 2011, the value of Jungheinrich's incoming orders had increased 20%, from the previous year's EUR588 million (USD843 million) to EUR706 million (USD1.011 billion). Net sales grew 18% from EUR532 million (USD762 million) to EUR628 million (USD900 million). Orders on hand from new truck business totaled EUR357 million (USD511 million) or 36% higher than the corresponding period last year.

Jungheinrich expects the global economic recovery to continue for the rest of 2011. The group predicts the world market to expand by over 10% to about 900,000 trucks for the year. This figure would surpass the level seen before the global recession in 2008.

Feeling optimistic about the market's development, Jungheinrich has lifted its forecasts for fiscal 2011 at the start of May this year to over EUR2.0 billion (USD2.865 billion) for incoming orders and to over EUR1.95 billion (USD2.794 billion) for consolidated net sales. Last year, the value of Jungheinrich's incoming orders totaled EUR1.924 billion (USD2.757 billion) and consolidated net sales were EUR1.816 billion (USD2.603 billion).