After hitting a new high in 2017, the North American lift truck market outdid itself once again last year by collectively selling more than one-quarter million new units. According to the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), this represented a 2.8% increase over 2017, with steady growth seen across most lift truck classes.

The ITA says year-end lift truck sales totaled 260,180, with electric and internal combustion truck sales growing at similar rates (showing annual increases of 2.8% and 2.7%, respectively). Overall, electric products accounted for approximately 64% of last year’s market, with the industrial lift truck market contributing more than $25 billion annually to the U.S. GDP, the association reports. Canada and Mexico remain the two largest export countries for U.S. forklift manufacturers.

Along with their North American counterparts, lift truck makers from other areas of the world also posted impressive sales growth last year.