Mexico has an estimated forklift population of 50,000 units. Of these, 35 percent are more than 10 years old. Normally, forklifts in Mexico have a life span of about 15 years.

Five years ago, battery electric forklifts were 11 percent of the national fleet, but this has grown to 27 percent since 1996. Diesels make up less than five percent of the market and, among the internal combustion forklifts, there is a 50/50 mix of gasoline and LP gas.

The most common units are class V. Makers servicing Mexico are Caterpillar, Clark, Crown, Daewoo, Hyster, Komatsu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Raymond, Toyota and Yale.

New rules this year will see internal combustion forklifts, of up to seven tonnes capacity, pay a two percent duty if they are imported from the USA or Canada. The duty will be eight percent for European imports, and 23 percent for forklifts from other countries, such as Japan, Korea and China. Forklifts with a capacity of more than seven tonnes will be duty-free, regardless of origin, from April 1.

Electrics from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries are duty-free, and used trucks (if accompanied by a certificate of origin) pay the same duty as new units.

Accessories such as attachments, batteries and tyres pay a duty relative to their classification but, if they enter the country attached to a forklift, they pay the same duty as the forklift.

By 2003, NAFTA-made forklifts of all types will be duty-free. The duty on European forklifts will be reduced to six percent. Negotiations are still in progress for other countries, but they are also likely to have their duty reduced.