Demand for crawler excavators and dumpers rises solidly

Used equipment market report shows shifting trends in Europe

The latest Market Trends Report from Ritchie Bros. on used equipment reveals key developments in the European equipment sector over the first quarter of 2025. This article covers key trends for the construction industry.

The report provides valuable insights and is based on price and item data from transactions and advertisements from Ritchie Bros.' European sales channels, such as auctions and the online marketplaces Mascus and Marketplace-E. This comprehensive analysis helps equipment owners, buyers and sellers better understand the current dynamics within the used equipment market, allowing them to make better decisions in a rapidly changing industry. The Q1 report focuses on five key machinery categories for construction and agriculture, including crawler excavators, articulated dump trucks and tractors, and provides a comprehensive overview of trends in supply, demand and prices in Europe.

Ritchie Bros. notes some notable market shifts. Tracked excavators, for example, saw a 33% increase in buyer demand on Mascus from Q1-2024, indicating a more optimistic outlook for 2025. Demand was strongest in the United Kingdom, followed by Germany and the Netherlands. Caterpillar was the most sought-after brand, followed by Volvo and Hitachi. Doosan (now Develon) and Komatsu completed the top five. At the same time, the number of crawler excavators offered for sale through this online platform decreased by 7% compared to the same period last year. At auctions, the number of crawler excavators sold through Ritchie Bros. in Europe decreased from 351 to 336 units (-4%).

More running hours

More demand and less supply, therefore prices rise, any economist would reason. However, the average selling price for crawler excavators experienced a modest decline in Q1, which corresponds to the increase in the average age of machines - from 8 to 9 years - indicating a greater proportion of older items in the current market. Buyers are opting for older machines with a bit more running hours, indicating a cautious attitude toward investment in newer equipment. Komatsu, JCB and Kubota were the top selling brands at auctions. The most popular model was the 8-ton Kubota KX080-4 with an average of €23,805 for 22 units.

Despite the somewhat disappointing figures, optimism remains. After all, the market is far from stagnant, with 61% of all buyers in Europe. The figures for the first quarter paint a realistic picture: a market that, while cooling further, is also adjusting. Looking at the first two auctions of Ritchie Bros. in Moerdijk, it is noticeable that numbers are also lagging compared to previous years. Average prices have adjusted over time, influenced by an increase in terms of the average age of the machines, which rose from 6 to 10 years. This evolution suggests that buyers prefer well-maintained, older machines that offer strong value. Komatsu, Caterpillar and Volvo make up the top 3.

Price doubling

By contrast, mini excavators narrowly missed doubling in price to €6,705. A small note here is that the average age was only 2 years and the average price moved between €8,312 and €13,001. Yanmar and Kubota make up the top 3 with Chinese brand JPC. Among wheel loaders, Volvo, CAT and Komatsu occupied the podium. Compared to last year, the selling price in Q1-2025 decreased by nearly 11% to an average of €19,483. However, the age did increase from 9.5 to 11 years and prices are still higher than in 2020 or 2023. Among the articulated dump trucks sold in Moerdijk, we see the same picture. The price level decreased by almost 22% to €41,497, but the average age increased from 12 to 16 years. No surprises either in terms of the top 3 over 2020-2025; that consists of Volvo, Caterpillar and Bell.

In stark contrast to the latter figures, the Market Trends Report for Europe actually mentions an increase of 56% (to €72,717) in average auction prices for articulated dumpers, indicating strong interest despite uncertainties in the market. Moreover, most of the demand comes from Dutch buyers, who are overwhelmingly orienting more broadly than just auctions at Moerdijk. While industry reports indicate a 24% drop in new articulated dump truck sales and a 35% drop in total demand in 2024, Ritchie Bros. sold 52 articulated dump trucks in Q1-2025 versus 44 in the same period last year - the highest quarterly volume last year. The average machine age dropped from 14 to 11 years, reflecting expectations of long-term use.