[font=Verdana]U.S. construction equipment exports for 2005 increased 35 percent over the previous year as $12 billion worth of American-made machinery was shipped to countries across the globe, according to data released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).[/font]

[font=Verdana]South America[/font][font=Verdana] recorded the strongest gains, with a 51-percent increase, while [/font][font=Verdana]Central America[/font][font=Verdana] experienced the least growth, with a 15-percent gain.[/font]

[font=Verdana]The AEM international trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Department data with other sources into a quarterly trends report.[/font]

[font=Verdana]Exports to [/font][font=Verdana]South America[/font][font=Verdana] grew the most in 2005 as the region took delivery of $1.6 billion worth of [/font][font=Verdana]U.S.[/font][font=Verdana] construction equipment, a 51-percent gain. [/font][font=Verdana]Central America[/font][font=Verdana]