Global demand for materials handling equipment grew 8% in the third quarter of 2007.

The nine-month January-September period saw the global market swell from 632,000 units to 696,000 units, according to World Industrial Truck Statistics data cited in a Jungheinrich press release.

Europe was a strong growth driver, recording a rise of 18%. Eastern Europe achieved an increase of 44%, outpacing Western Europe's growth momentum of about 14%.

The Asian market expanded by about 15% and China grew about 21%.

North America shrunk by 12%. However, the downward trend lessened in the third quarter.

Jungheinrich board of management chairman Hans-Georg Frey is optimistic about the coming year.

"So far, 2007 has been exceptional for both our sector and Jungheinrich. We expect the market to post further growth in 2008, albeit with less momentum."

Net sales for Jungheinrich AG jumped 15% from EUR1.249 billion (USD1.83 billion) to EUR1.435 billion (USD2.104 billion) for the first nine months of 2007. The group's new truck business displayed the largest growth at 19%, followed by the short-term hire and used equipment business (15%), while after-sales business grew 7%.

Meanwhile, the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) has released half yearly sales figures showing rising demand for some forklift types in the UK.

During the first quarter of 2007, the powered pallet trucks market grew 18.6% and the engine counterbalanced forklift market grew 9.3% compared to last year's corresponding period.

In the second quarter, powered pallet truck orders increased 15% over the previous year. Engine counterbalanced forklift orders jumped 6.7%.

BITA members reported 31,700 unit orders for the 12 months to the second quarter of 2007. This figure is close to the 32,000 trucks reported for the 12 months to the third quarter of 2005, a "peak period" for the UK market.

Not all forklift types saw an increase in demand. Electric counterbalanced forklifts, reach trucks and low-level order pickers declined in the first quarter of 2007, but grew 2.4%, 3.7% and 1.9% respectively in the second quarter.

BITA's Truck Suppliers' Group members report details of UK orders and deliveries each month. The aggregated monthly and year-to-date figures are available on a confidential basis to all contributing members.

BITA's Components and Services Group receives a monthly statistical overview with the option to purchase detailed information.

The association claims its 82 member companies manufacture and distribute over 90% of all new forklifts procured in the UK each year. Members include forklift manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and media operating in the UK.