Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $12.0bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Sales to mining companies have slumped since the 2022-23 peak
- Mining companies provided a crucial avenue for sales growth as Mining division output surged to a peak in 2022-23 on the back of robust export volumes of iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas. Rising global commodity prices and disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict supported favourable mining trends.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Favourable building trends to lift sales of high-rise cranes and hoists
- An upswing in several core construction markets over the five years through 2029-30 is set to benefit distributors. Accelerated growth in multi-storey apartment construction – a core source of sales of material handling equipment like high-rise cranes, conveyors, hoists and loading platforms – will be particularly beneficial.
Biggest companies in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Seven | 1,464.0 | |
Hastings Deering Group | 1,294.0 | |
Komatsu Australia | 978.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Conveyors, Industrial trucks and Hoists and cranes. Conveyors is the largest segment of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Conveyor sales are climbing despite the recent slump in mining trends
- Sales of conveyor systems are expected to rise marginally as a share of revenue through 2024-25, supported by favourable trends in the transport and agricultural markets but severely constrained in recent years by the slump in mining output.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry operators sell material handling equipment, such as conveying equipment, hoists, cranes, forklifts and industrial trucks, usually on a wholesale basis.
What's included in this industry?
Conveyor system distributing and wholesalingForklift and industrial truck distributing and wholesalingLoader distributing and wholesalingLoading platform distributing and wholesalingHoists and crane distributing and wholesalingStorage equipment distributing and wholesalingOther material handling equipment distributing and wholesalingCompanies
SevenHastings Deering GroupKomatsu AustraliaPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
HOISTCONVEYORPALLETMATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT FORKLIFT WHOLESALE BYPASSIndustry Code
ANZSIC 3419 - Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Slumping output by the Mining division since a 2022-23 peak has dampened spending on new equipment and replacement parts. Mining investment is crucial for sales of skid-steer...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Weaker export activity by mining companies has recently dampened investment in new mining developments. New mines drive sales of draglines, surface and underground conveyor b...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Queensland's large mining, agriculture and construction base is serviced by many distributors. Several prominent distributors, including Hastings Deering and Fenner Conveyors...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
New entrants may struggle to compete against distribution companies with an established reputation and high-profile brands. Prospective dealers must demonstrate the ability t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry comprises several large-scale distributors with exclusive rights to sell high-profile branded products within regional markets. Hasting Deering and WesTrac each ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Seven's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Hastings Deering Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Komatsu Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Seven, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Hastings Deering Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Komatsu Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Trends in mining production drive sales of material handling equipment like draglines, longwall excavators and conveyor systems. Falling commodity prices and less favourable ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profitability has narrowed over the four years through 2024-25 as unfavourable trends in the construction and mining markets have led to fierce price competition. Inflated pr...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia is $12.0bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 899 businesses in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors market in Australia are Seven, Hastings Deering Group and Komatsu Australia
What does the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia include?
Conveyor system distributing and wholesaling and Forklift and industrial truck distributing and wholesaling are part of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is Seven.
How competitive is the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors industry in Australia.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Mining and Construction Machinery Manufacturing in Australia
- Conveyor and Crane Manufacturing in Australia
- Farm and Construction Machinery Wholesaling in Australia
- Mining and Industrial Machinery Wholesaling in Australia
International industries
- Construction & Mining Equipment Wholesaling in the US
- Construction & Forestry Equipment Wholesaling in Canada
- Industrial and Mining Machinery Wholesaling in New Zealand
- Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK
- Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in Germany
View all industries in Australia
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
