According to the market trend report of lees brothers in September, compared with the level in 2020, the total number of arm type and scissor type aerial work platforms sold by auction in the United States decreased as a whole, but the price of equipment increased significantly.
In its report, lees brothers said that the high utilization rate, rental rate and OEM production delay led to a sharp decline in the total sales of boom and scissor aerial work platforms, but the "unprecedented demand" in the market was due to the 29% increase in the price of aerial equipment.
In the past three months, the price of scissor aerial work platform has increased by 15%, while the price of arm aerial work platform and telescopic forklift have increased by 16%.
In the second quarter of 2021, the sales of scissor aerial work platforms in the United States decreased by - 33% to 1000 units, while the sales of lees Brothers last year was 1500 units, of which the decline was even greater in three months (June to August), which was - 57%, an increase of 740 units compared with 1710 units last year.
Ritchie Bros. reported that in the second quarter, the sales volume of boom aerial work platforms in the United States was 1120 units, down - 31% from 1630 units last year, and 840 units in the past three months (June to August), down - 58% from 2020 units last year
Despite these declines, Lee brothers said that the market demand for shear fork platforms in August was more than twice that of the same month last year, and the demand for boom elevators exceeded that of the previous year.
Doug olive, senior vice president of pricing at Lee brothers, said: "we have seen a sharp decline in the sales of aerial work equipment in 2021 and strong demand. Due to supply constraints and record high rent rates, buyers are now paying a premium for aerial work platforms and the amount of work available."
In terms of regions, the top five buying regions in the North American market are Texas, California, Alberta (Canada), Florida and British Columbia (Canada).
For scissor aerial work platforms, the main buyers reported by Lee brothers include Texas, Illinois and Florida, while the buyers of arm aerial work platforms are the most prominent in Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.
The domestic aerial work platform market is opposite to that of foreign countries, not rising but falling
With the rapid growth of market sales and equipment ownership, the rental price of aerial work platform continues to decline, forming a strange circle of "volume rise and price fall".
Fierce industry competition is like sailing against the current. If you want to survive, you will be forced forward by the torrent of the market, and you can't help expanding the scale and competing for the market.
In addition, the competition among main engine manufacturers has gradually entered the Red Sea. From early foreign brands and professional manufacturers to other construction machinery giants in recent years, they have strongly entered the high-speed machine market, increased full horsepower production and adopted strong promotion means. The number of equipment in the high-altitude operation platform rental market has continued to increase.
The industry believes that while the domestic aerial work platform market continues to grow, the situation of oversupply will also exist for a long time.
China's aerial work platform started late, but it has developed very rapidly in recent years. It is also the most growing plate in the whole construction machinery industry.
In particular, affected by the decline of demographic dividend, the expansion of basic investment and other comprehensive factors, the application field of aerial work platform will be more and more extensive, and the industry development will continue for a long time. Such as the construction of Beijing Daxing airport, the aerial work platform will show its skills.
Daxing airport has a unique shape. Its high-altitude construction operation faces many problems such as large span, high height, complex structure and difficult positioning. Relying only on the traditional high-altitude operation mode, it is not only low construction efficiency, but also difficult to ensure construction safety.
Gu Tao, general manager of JLG Asia Pacific region, said in an interview that Daxing airport did not use scaffolds, but fully used aerial work platforms. Compared with traditional scaffolds, the working efficiency of aerial work platforms can be improved by 50% and the cost can be reduced by about 50%.
Although the overall market will continue to grow, the aerial work platform industry has shown a situation of vicious competition, and the profit margin of lessors is not directly proportional to the growth of market scale.
Therefore, we can not hold a simple optimistic attitude towards the market prospect of aerial work platform. At present, China and the developed countries in Europe and the United States are in different development stages, and the development between different regions and industries is uneven. Therefore, the growth of the aerial work platform market is also gradual. We can not directly benchmark the equipment ownership in Europe and the United States, so as to determine China's market demand.
As early as last year, some industry experts said that the market of aerial work platform was overestimated, which was a "false outlet". However, the growth trend of the market in 2020 showed that the aerial work platform industry still had great growth potential. Due to the influx of a large number of capital and personnel in the short term, irrational competition in the market was formed.
It can be predicted that the fierce competition in the aerial work platform rental market will continue for some time. Until the industry reshuffles again, the development of enterprises that survive after the waves wash the sand will be on the right track, the market will form a balanced pattern, and the overall profit margin will gradually rise to the balance point.
Development trend of aerial work platform
1. Intelligence and electrification are becoming more and more popular
From the product dynamics launched by enterprises in 2020, new energy and intelligence have gradually become new growth points of the industry. Shanhe intelligent launched the first 5g scissor type aerial work vehicle in China, which uses 5g technology and integrates wireless communication technology, sensor technology, anti-collision technology and remote monitoring technology to realize cross regional construction operation. Zoomlion launched a number of intelligent innovative products led by key technologies such as "green, intelligent, efficient and reliable" at BMW Shanghai Exhibition in November, such as DC and HC lithium battery series scissor type aerial work platforms, zt26j-880v straight arm suction cup truck built with modular, lightweight, universal and intelligent modern design, etc. XCMG, JieXi heavy industry, jieerjie and other domestic and foreign enterprises also focus on intelligent and electric products. Among them, jieerjie first released es series electric scissor aerial work platform at BMW exhibition and launched the development strategy of "electric drive & digitization".
The promotion and application of intelligent and electric technology and equipment: first, meet the current market situation, reduce the equipment operation threshold and improve the operation efficiency through intelligent and digital technology; Second, from the perspective of energy and environmental protection, open up a path of sustainable development for the development of the industry.
2. Explore a new mode of cooperation between lessors
With the large-scale expansion of the aerial work platform market, the market competition is becoming more and more intense. Behind the more fierce competition and severe test in the post epidemic era, with the large-scale release of production capacity, the rent continues to decline. The investment recovery of aerial work platform has been extended from one or two years in the initial stage of development to four or five years. What's more, it is estimated that the current equipment investment recovery cycle has reached 8 years.
At present, the desire for equipment procurement of small and medium-sized aerial work platform leasing enterprises is very low, which is in sharp contrast to 2019. 30% of the reasons for this situation are related to epidemic factors, and 70% are that the rate of rent decline has exceeded everyone's expectations. Considering the investment payback cycle and accounts receivable, the desire of small and medium-sized leasing enterprises to purchase new equipment is generally reduced.
On the other hand, production safety, high efficiency and low cost are three important factors driving the demand for domestic aerial work platforms. In the post epidemic era, the construction period compression has promoted the high-efficiency advantage of aerial work platform, but in terms of production safety assurance, there is no strong regulatory policies and measures, and the substantive positive promotion is not obvious. From the perspective of the development of aerial work platform itself, safety and reliability should become the primary consideration.
