The Philippine market for forklifts and related materials handling equipment and parts posted modest growth in 2003, and figures for the first quarter of 2004 signal a continuation of that trend.
Figures from the country's Bureau of Import Services' monitoring division show purchases last year reached USD10.8 million (total customs/invoice value). The figure excludes purchases in Japanese currency amounting to JPY46,784,847 (USD425,000). Both USD and JPY figures exclude freight, duties and related charges.
Among the leading importers last year were:
United Auctioneers Inc (USD746,962); Yaletrak Philippines (USD722,488 and JPY27 million [USD245,200]); Philippine Forklift Center Inc (USD814,258); Titan-Milde Motors Inc (USD150,863); Microvan Inc (USD119,105); Monark Equipment Corp (USD702,553 and JPY5.6 million [USD50,800]); Paragon Trading and Services Corp (USD533,859); Subic Acropolis Inc (USD35,400); H&T Trading (USD28,383); Cebu Titan Surplus Inc (USD47,716); Boeing Material Handling Corp (USD115,993); Asia International Auctioneers Inc (USD699,066); PhilHeisei Trading Corp (USD23,398); Handling Innovation Inc (USD110,164); Asialift Inc (USD63,434); and SR-5 Trading (USD15,147).
Most suppliers were Japanese, but a small number of contracts were with companies based in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the USA, Canada, China, Australia and some European countries. Among the leading exporters/suppliers last year were:
TCM Corp (42 contracts); Toyota Industries Corp (34); Nankai & Co Ltd (26); FFC Co Ltd (15); Jungheinrich (14); Kyoei Auto (13); Yale Asia Pacific (12); Mitsubishi Caterpillar (11); and Kotobuki Trading Inc (10).
Purchases covered new and used equipment and parts. Of the roughly 460 purchases, 248 were used forklifts and related parts, and the rest were new equipment. Forklifts accounted for about 150 transactions, with electric and diesel models and accessories in 27 and 11 deals, respectively.
Importers favoured TCM, which was the supplier in almost 80 trades, while Toyota was selected in about 40. Caterpillar and Yale forklifts and related equipment were also selected by many importers.
No comparable historical data was available before publication.