The UK forklift market looks set for a record year, having sold more than 9000 forklifts in the second quarter, the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) reports.

BITA figures for the April-June quarter reveal the market sold more than 9000 forklifts, and that figure, projected over 12 months, would see the UK sell more than 31,400 forklifts by year-end, a 6 per cent increase over 2003, and an all-time high.

Much of the increased market movement was driven by the distribution sector, with 41 per cent more warehouse trucks sold in the second quarter than in the first. Counterbalanced forklift sales grew less, achieving 5 per cent growth over the first quarter.

BITA reported that orders for low-level order-pickers were "significant".