The Japanese Industrial Vehicles Association (JIVA) forecasts Japan's forklift market to be flat this year.

That is despite growth in forklift sales for all classes in 2006.

According to figures from World Industrial Truck Statistics, a global alliance of industrial truck associations, a total of 88,419 forklifts were sold in Japan in 2006.

There were 20,839 electric counterbalanced forklifts sold, a nine per cent jump from 2005, 18,129 electric narrow aisle forklifts, a 9.4 per cent increase, 4,824 electric pedestrian forklifts, a 5.2 per cent jump, and 44,627 internal combustion counterbalanced forklifts, a three per cent increase.

JIVA senior manager Ken'ichiro Takase said total sales showed positive growth in the fourth consecutive year, based on strong investment in Japan's private sector.

Growth in "demand for electric forklifts was stronger than for IC forklifts. This could be caused by increased environmental friendliness in customers.

"[But] we estimate the 2007 Japanese market will be almost flat," he said. JIVA's forecast was based on a "consensus of members' estimates".