A year in review: 2025 milestones and achievements for Ritchie Bros.

Ritchie Bros., the world's largest industrial auction house and a leading marketplace for used heavy equipment, closes 2025 as one of its strongest years ever, partly due to intensive global activities., characterized by a series of record-breaking auctions, milestones, and close customer engagement at both local events and major international trade fairs.

The company held 79 auctions in the EMEA and APAC regions this year, selling more than 101,800 lots from over 6,000 sellers and attracting more than 21,300 buyers and over 81,300 bidders through its Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, IronPlanet, and Marketplace-E channels.

These results underscore the strength of Ritchie Bros. as a global ecosystem for the sale of used and unused heavy equipment, connecting sellers with a broad international audience of buyers. By combining technological expertise with in-depth industry knowledge and strong personal relationships, Ritchie Bros. enables companies to make confident decisions about their fleets, even in dynamic market conditions.

Optimism in EMEA

Europe started 2025 with strong momentum. The German RB team organized the largest Ritchie Bros. auction in its history in the first quarter, while its presence at bauma in Munich (April 2025) and Agritechnica in Hanover (November 2025) – two of the world's most influential trade fairs – further strengthened the country's international profile and highlighted Ritchie Bros.’ leadership in the region.

Interest was also high in Northern Europe, stimulated by the opening of new storage/auction sites for equipment in Vaggeryd (Sweden), Tuusula (Finland) and Mullingar (Ireland), which offer sellers easy and cost-effective access to buyers around the world. The Scandinavian branches strengthened the Benelux– and broader regional auction network, while a high-quality equipment package from Collé Rental & Sales further boosted performance in the Benelux region. The Mullingar site was Ritchie Bros.' first in Ireland and expanded local access to international markets with the support of a dedicated team.

In 2025, Ritchie Bros. also expanded its off-site auction program out, allowing sellers to sell directly from their own premises at auction without moving a single machine. These auctions leverage Ritchie Bros.' global reach, extensive network, marketing exposure, and auction expertise to maximize value for sellers. In the United Kingdom The off-site auction of British company M O'Brien attracted bidders from 47 countries, with 53% of buyers coming from outside the UK and 64% of the auction value sold internationally, demonstrating strong global demand at a national event. Meanwhile, France four off-site auctions in 2025, including the first auction specifically for dealers, and two agricultural off-site auctions for two agricultural businesses undergoing major operational changes. In addition, the French team ended the year with a record auction in December, which was attended by more than 4,300 bidders.

Southern Europe celebrated in 2025 important anniversaries and record-breaking events. In Italy, the Caorso branch celebrated its 15th anniversary in December with its top customers, and the auction site was also featured in a national TV documentary highlighting its role in agricultural and industrial auctions. In Spain In November, Ocana celebrated its 25th anniversary with a record auction—the largest in six years—with more than 3,200 lots and buyers from 55 countries, as well as a charity auction for the Desafío ELA foundation.

Outside Europe, the Middle East also achieved excellent results in 2025. Ritchie Bros.' Dubai facility had a record year, with 6,800 lots sold to more than 1,500 buyers and unprecedented participation from sellers.

Strong interest in Asia-Pacific markets

Growth in the APAC region reflected these market dynamics. In this region, Ritchie Bros. held 41 auctions through its Ritchie Bros. and IronPlanet channels, selling over 32,800 lots and attracting more than 30,000 unique bidders.

Australia celebrated its 30th anniversary with the largest national auction in its history., a live auction with no reserve prices where bids could be placed live and online. There were nearly 6,000 registrations and over 412,000 page views, marking three decades of growth since Ritchie Bros. held its first auction in Brisbane in 1995.

In that same year, the acquisition of Smith Broughton Auctioneers completed in Western Australia, further strengthening the company's presence in key mining, infrastructure, and construction sectors.

Ritchie Bros. also held its first two OEM auctions in China Organized through IronPlanet, featuring newer machines with low operating hours from various sellers, including excavators, cranes, and trucks from top manufacturers such as XCMG, JLG, and Liugong. Buyers could purchase directly from trusted OEMs, ensuring quality and reliability.

Growth driven by people and supported by technology

"2025 was a year of greater reach and deeper customer relationships and collaborations.", says Ghislaine Duijmelings, General Manager International at Ritchie Bros. “We have strengthened the international network our customers rely on, but beyond the numbers, our success is due to the people who make this company what it is: experts in the field who understand local markets and connect them to global opportunities. This combination of human insight and global demand is what will lead our customers confidently into 2026.“

As the industry prepares for the first major auctions and sales events of the new year, Ritchie Bros. will continue to support customers with the insights and reach that will help them to Start 2026 strong and achieve more with Ritchie Bros.