Shipments of construction machinery increased 19.3 percent year over year in August, the Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association said this week. The increase was the 20^th consecutive month of year-over-year increases.

The association said construction cranes and tunnel-boring machinery benefited from post-earthquake rebuilding efforts. August shipments totaled JY 178.1 billion (about U.S. $2.3 billion).

Domestic shipments grew 30.9 percent to JY 52.2 billion (about U.S. $677 million), the fifth consecutive month of domestic increases, driven by growth in shipments of hydraulic shovels, mini shovels, crushers and other debris-disposal equipment.

Exports grew 15 percent to JY 125.9 billion, the 20^th consecutive month of export increases. Shipments to Latin America jumped 120 percent for resource developments in mining. Exports to Europe and North America increased as well.

Exports to China declined for the second consecutive month because of suspensions of construction projects in coastal areas because of China’s tighter monetary policy.