According to the latest Second-hand Equipment Market Trend Report released by Ritchie Bros, the European second-hand equipment market is showing more definite signs of recovery. Prices are stabilizing, demand is continuously rising, and cross-border transactions are becoming increasingly active. (Engineering Equipment Newsletter Release, Mechanical Intelligence Station Translation)
This 2025 Q3 European edition report based on Ritchie Bros' auction data and Mascus platform listings shows that the industry has moved from the recovery stage to the structural reconfiguration stage - Buyers are more inclined to purchase equipment that is newer in age and meets emission standards, while sellers benefit from the improvement in market liquidity.
Compact equipment continues to dominate market transactions, providing the core support for the described more resilient and result-oriented second-hand market.
The construction machinery sector performed strongly.
In the third quarter, the construction machinery sector was one of the most stable areas, with compact equipment and earthmoving machinery standing out particularly.
The sales of articulated dump trucks have significantly rebounded, and this trend is closely related to the growth in demand for infrastructure construction and quarry operations. Driven by a 79% increase in transaction volume, the median auction price rose by 5% to approximately 42,700 euros. Volvo Construction Equipment became the best-selling brand, with the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands being the main buyer markets.
The sales of crawler excavators increased by 35% compared to the third quarter of 2024, with the median price remaining slightly above 31,000 euros. The UK, Spain, and Belgium were the most active buyer markets. Driven by the strong demand from buyers in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, the consultation volume on the Mascus platform (calculated based on email and phone inquiries) increased by 37%.
The report states that mini excavators remain the most outstanding category. The demand on the Mascus platform increased by 27%, the auction transaction volume rose by 10%, and the median price increased by 3% to 11,800 euros. Italy had the largest auction purchase volume, followed by Spain and France. Rental companies and contractors are actively updating their fleets of small equipment.
Ritchie Bros stated that the latest data indicates that after a long period of market fluctuations, buyer confidence has significantly improved and the market is stabilizing. The company also pointed out that as emission standards in Europe become increasingly strict, the attention of equipment fleet owners to newer equipment is constantly increasing.
"Today across Europe, we are seeing a more confident and more cautious market," Duncan Ainscough, the sales director of Ritchie Bros, said. "Buyers are making value-oriented decisions based on sufficient information - they are targeting efficient and compliant equipment to support their long-term operational goals."