European materials handling production value remained stable in 2010 at 54bn euros, according to FEM, the European Materials Handling Federation.
Exports outside the EU increased by 7 per cent while extra-EU imports were up by 18 per cent.
Olivier Janin, FEM secretary general, said: “The increase of exports in the production value makes it even more important to remove trade and access barriers on certain foreign markets through Free Trade Agreements. On the other hand, more and more equipment originating from third countries is put on the EU market: market surveillance must ensure that such equipment complies with EU regulatory requirements.”