German mining equipment manufacturers are set for record sales in 2019, according to the VDMA, Germany’s Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.

The association expects sales to rise 38% to around €5 billion ($5.5 billion) in 2019, estimating revenues should “at least be maintained” in 2020.

This contrasts with the manufacturer’s domestic market where sales are expected to rise 10% to €110 million, reflecting a decision to phase out lignite-fired power generation and decreased “opportunities to continue producing domestic raw materials”, the VDMA said.

The European Union continues to dominate exports for these companies, with the 28 member state bloc expected to account for 25% of exports in 2019, down from 27% in 2018. Among the nations, France and Great Britain had “decisive impetus”, it said.

The VDMA expected a further slight increase in exports to the EU for 2020.

The second largest export country, the USA, accounted for an estimated 12% share. This was down from 2018’s 15% share and was in line with the nation’s transition from coal power to gas.

With the country making efforts to strengthen not only coal mining but mining as a whole, the VDMA was “cautiously optimistic” to at least be able to maintain exports to the USA in the coming year, it said.

Chairman of VDMA Mining, Dr Michael Schulte Strathaus, named China as the third largest exporting country for these manufacturers in 2019, with just over 10%. This is up from the just over 9% in 2018, with the VDMA expecting the country to maintain this level in 2020.

Russia came in fourth position, climbing from just under 6% of total exports in 2018 to more than 7% in 2019, thanks to solid demand for coal. Russian exports were expected to increase in 2020, the VDMA said.

And, rounding out the top five was Australia, with a total expected share of around 7% in 2019. This is up from 2% in 2017, with the country “benefiting greatly from Asia’s increasing hunger for energy”, the VDMA said.