Mining equipment demand to soar

There is a lot of activity at the world's metal, coal and aggregates mines. Global demand for specialized mining machinery and equipment (including separately sold parts and attachments) is projected to increase 9.3 percent per year through 2009 to $27.5 billion, according to a new report by the Cleveland-based Freedonia Group. Beginning about 2002-2003, prices for mineable commodities -- especially metals like copper, silver and gold -- began to firm, and then surged in 2004 and continued into 2006. This has led to intensified efforts to mine metal ores, and thus has generated healthy demand for products like mining machinery. Meanwhile, coal, while facing dwindling reserves in numerous countries, remains in demand as an alternative source of energy in an era of high oil and gas prices, while demand for industrial minerals (clays, sand and gravel, stone and a myriad of others) has benefitted from the general upsurge in commodities markets. Your comment?