CEMA, the European Committee that represents the interests of the European agricultural machinery industry, held its annual Congress in Paris on 20 November 2007. The market outlook given on this occasion was optimistic.

According to latest CEMA estimates, the European (EU 27) market for farm equipment in 2007 should reach €20.2 billion, an 8% increase, reflecting the strong momentum of the whole European agriculture. The total 2007 tractor market should increase by 3% to reach 164,000 units.

The increase in the overall 2007 European sales reflected a good agricultural year which encouraged farmers to invest in more efficient machines that reduce costs of production and provide better safety along with a higher level of environmental protection. However manufacturers have been faced with sharp rises in the prices of ferrous materials and oil-based products, which pushed up production costs.

The economic experts of CEMA are presently of the view that the European market should confirm the current trend in 2008 and will show a further increase of 5%.

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The Congress marked an important milestone for the association as industry and national associations agreed to a fundamental reform of CEMA that aims at strengthening the association and improving its role as the voice of the European agricultural machinery industry. In addition to a strong commitment and involvement of all leading manufacturers of agricultural equipment the reform also includes an improvement of the lobbying activities at European level. In consequence CEMA will move its offices to Brussels to be closer to the heart of European decision making.

Another decision was the election of a new leadership for CEMA. Federico Corradini, Industrial Co-ordination Director at CNH International, took over the Presidency of CEMA. He will be supported by two Vice-Presidents, Mr Gilles Dryancour, Director, Deere & Company European Office, and Mr Franz-Georg von Busse, Manager, Lemken GmbH & Co. KG, plus a new Board consisting of 14 senior industry managers representing all areas of the agricultural machinery industry.

"CEMA is strongly supporting a harmonized European legal framework for agricultural machinery. We want a high level of safety for users and environmental protection – but on the basis of realistic solutions that will not limit our competitiveness and negatively impact product improvement for the benefit of an efficient European agriculture," says new CEMA President Federico Corradini CEMA is the European Committee of Associations of Manufacturers of Agricultural machinery. It brings together the Associations of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, UK, Spain and Switzerland. As such it is representative of the European Farm Machinery Industry towards the EU institutions, in particular the EU Parliament and the Commission.

(JM)