The ACEA organisation has just published its quarterly figures for truck registrations in the European Union:
- 81,766 units in Q1 2026 vs. 73,873 units in Q1 2025, representing a 10.7% increase in registrations
- Top performers: Cyprus (+103.8%), Latvia (+63.7%), and the Netherlands (+38.2%)
- Top decliners: Malta (-42.9%), Ireland (-6.6%), and Bulgaria (-5.5%)
- The largest markets, apart from France (-1.4%), saw increases: Germany (+6.9%), Poland (+32.8%), Spain (+17.1%), and Italy (+6.5%)
- Poland: 8,397 units in Q1 2026 vs. 6,321 units in Q1 2025, representing a +32.8% increase and third place in the European Union
Statistics point to a significant improvement in the transport industry across the European Union. With the exception of a few small markets, new truck registrations are on the rise, resulting in an overall year-over-year increase of 10.7% after the first quarter. It should be noted, however, that last year’s figure was relatively low.
The semi-trailer market also shows improvement after the first quarter of 2026, albeit at a variable pace. Apart from Poland (-6.5% y/y), the other major markets are growing significantly: Germany +15.3%, Spain +8.9%, and Italy +7.4% (sources: Expertdata based on VDA and industry organization statistics). Here, too, last year’s results were low.
The first quarter certainly brought a revival to the transport market. Both trucks and trailers saw greater interest through March than a year earlier. However, these results do not account for the drastic change in the situation following the outbreak of war in Iran and the rise in fuel prices. Only the coming months will reveal whether this will impact the recovery of demand. Preliminary data from Poland indicate a halt in purchases on both the new and used car markets (more here).
