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After three years of high sales during the pandemic, the European construction equipment industry suffered a steep decline in 2024. The market fell 18 per cent to 187,375 units, returning volumes to levels similar to those prior to the Covid years. Last year the overall European market continued at an almost unchanged level to 2024, with a gain of just 0.3 per cent.

Although the market as a whole was unchanged in 2025, this was due to several factors. Firstly, sales continued to fall in the first half of the year before recovering in the second half, the net result being that 2025 remained flat overall.

Secondly, although Europe was flat overall, there were a range of different performances from country to country. While there was growth in southern Europe in particular, as well as some northern countries, by contrast, the mid European markets were either flat or down. The four major volume markets fitted this pattern, with the UK and Italy rising last year, while France and Germany were down. 

The key factor holding back growth in the construction equipment market is the weak state of Europe's housebuilding industry. Housebuilding starts were reported to be at a 10-year low in 2025, which has impacted the sale of compact equipment, in particular the mini excavator market. In contrast, however, the European infrastructure construction market has remained stable, aiding the sale of certain heavy equipment types last year, particularly crawler excavators.

Off-Highway Research expects the European construction equipment market to see modest growth over the next five years, with a period of low single digit annual growth, which should see sales return to a similar level as seen in 2020, by the end of the decade. 

The Europe Annual Review provides in-depth analysis and sales forecasts by country, equipment type, production, international perspective and projected forecasts up to 2030, and is essential reading for companies active in Europe, or those considering entering the market. The review is intended as a decision-making tool for manufacturers, distributors, rental companies, financial institutions, importers and all other stakeholders in the European construction equipment sector.

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