The US exported 34 per cent more construction equipment in 2006 than in 2005, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) said.

The AEM consolidated US Commerce Department data with other sources into a quarterly export trends report. The report found USD13.7 billion of US-made construction machinery was sold worldwide last year.

Exports to Central America increased most (40.5 per cent) in 2006. The region consumed USD1.3 billion of US-made equipment.

Construction machinery exports to South America jumped about 17 per cent, with purchases worth USD1.9 billion.

Canada imported 22 per cent more equipment, bringing its total to USD5.0 billion. Africa imported 34 per cent more with purchases totalling USD640 million. Australia/Oceania imported USD1.4 billion of construction equipment, a 26 per cent hike.

Asia and Europe were the two world regions showing drops in US construction equipment imports. Asia imported 11 per cent less equipment in 2006, totalling USD1.5 billion. Europe imported 12 per cent less (total USD1.85 billion).