Data from World Industrial Truck Statistics (WITS) show that global forklift orders grew 45.3% last year compared to 2009.

The total number of industrial trucks ordered in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania rose from 546,832 units in 2009 to 794,452 units in 2010.

Truck orders grew in all five regions, with Africa recording the largest growth of 60% from 9,721 to 15,534 units. Europe was the largest market in 2010, with 245,512 truck orders, compared to 207,891 the year before.

America saw a 52.2% jump from 118,929 to 181,060 units, while Asia posted the second-largest growth, recording a total of 322,953 truck orders or 56.4% higher than 2009's 206,531. Oceania posted a 32% increase from 11,340 to 14,973 units.

The global statistical reporting program that tracks orders and shipments of industrial trucks worldwide collates monthly and quarterly statistics on forklifts to produce WITS Reports.

The six trade groups contributing to the program are ABIMAQ -Associacao Brasileira de la Maquinas e Equipamentos (Brazil); CITA - China Industrial Truck Association; FEM IT - European Federation of Materials Handling (Europe); Product Group Industrial Trucks,
ITA - Industrial Truck Association (North America); JIVA - Japanese Industrial Vehicles Association; and KOCEMA - Korean Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association.

The data includes counterbalance electric rider trucks, electric warehouse rider trucks, electric warehouse pedestrian trucks and counterbalance cushion- and pneumatic-tyred internal combustion trucks.

WITS Reports are confidential to the membership of the participating associations. However, a worldwide summary by continent is made available to the public annually. To view that summary, click here.