RECORD GROWTH IN U.S OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT SHIPMENTS

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The American trade association, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has released its December forecast, showing record growth across the industry in the U.S, despite an ongoing pandemic and downward market pressures, and predict continued positive activity into 2021. 

“We’ve seen very real, significant positive market dynamics across many of the segments we track,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the OPEI (pictured above). “While this year has been very challenging, the industry has stepped up to continue making and shipping necessary equipment, helping many Americans get outside and work in and reconnect with their living landscapes.” 

Kris added, “We expect demand for outdoor power equipment to remain strong into 2021 as homeowners expand their connection to their living landscape and invest in the maintenance of their outdoor spaces. Consumer demand remains high, and inventories at outdoor power equipment dealers remain tight.”

Overall, the industry in the U.S saw shipments of outdoor power equipment increase by more than 5 million units - a jump of 16 percent from last year - and those levels are expected to remain elevated in 2021. 

The OPEI say this year has seen expansion of both petrol-powered and battery/electric equipment, with all electric and battery powered segments tracked by OPEI posting double-digit growth. “The industry continues to expand its power offerings for commercial contractors and homeowners,” Kris said.

• Consumer lawnmower shipments grew more than 15 percent in 2020, with 7.7 million units shipped.
• Commercial lawn mower shipments are down about 5 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, with more than 308,000 shipped, but are expected to grow by more than 5 percent in 2021.
• Handheld power equipment shipments grew by more than 17 percent in 2020, with 29.3 million units shipped.

“Commercial products are down a bit this year, as professional landscape contractors have been conservative during this period of uncertainty. They’ve been saving and will likely be in a strong cash position in the spring,” Kris said. “Manufacturers expect significant commercial investment in spring of 2021, and we expect this sector to grow by more than 5 percent next year.”

OPEI forecasted projections use as their basis the compiled monthly shipment data reported by OPEI members, constituting more than 90 percent of all shipments in the U.S. market. OPEI projections reflect shipments of products to include all power sources.