Author: James Morgan

Industry specialists from Hyster, Manitou and Maximal speak to Plant & Equipment about forklift demand in the Middle East, and how it is likely to develop in 2023. Small, agile and powerful. When you need to move large volumes of materials quickly, there’s no trustier companion than the humble forklift truck. With roots stretching back to the 19th century and units toiling away in every corner of the globe, it’s easy to take these machines for granted. But make no mistake, these ever-dependable lifters have never been so important. Nowhere is this truer than in the Gulf, where the rise…

Per Lorentzon, Commercial Manager for Market Area Africa at Volvo Construction Equipment, speaks to Plant & Equipment about regional demand for the manufacturer’s heavy-duty haulers. Heavy-duty haulage represents big business. According to data published by Transparency Market Research, the global off-highway truck market registered a value of more than $783 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach an eye-watering $1.3 trillion within the coming eight years. With an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% forecast for the period 2022-31, off-highway trucks look set to remain in high demand for the foreseeable future. These super-strength behemoths are particularly…

Bobcat and Sunward speak to James Morgan about growing demand for mini excavators in African markets. The equipment may be small but don’t let that fool you. Compact diggers represent big business on the international stage. The global market value for mini excavators was estimated to be in the region of $6.5 billion in 2020, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. This figure is expected to grow to more than $10 billion by 2030, representing a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the period. Countries in Africa have not traditionally been known as high-demand markets for mini excavators, instead favouring…

Machinery experts from Komatsu and LiuGong speak to Plant & Equipment about existing and predicted levels of demand for bulldozers in the Middle East. The global bulldozer market reached $4.4 billion in 2021, according to research published by IMARC Group, and is expected to hit $6.5 billion by 2027. If achieved, this trajectory will entail an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% during the period. As a region renowned for its ambitious, large-scale developments, there has always been a need for effective and dependable bulldozers in the Middle East. Indeed, GCC-based construction professionals have been known to remark…

Mahmoud Ayoub, Sales Manager at Masaha Equipment Co., tells James Morgan how he plans to lead his team to market dominance within Kuwait’s machinery sector during the next five years. The post-pandemic recovery of Kuwait’s heavy machinery market appears to be in full swing. According to a 2022 report from Arizton Advisory and Intelligence, the country’s construction equipment sector is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5.5% during the period 2022-28, reaching a market value of $450 million by the end of the period. Such figures indicate this could be a propitious juncture for…

Lintec & Linnhoff, PMSA, Columbia Machine Engineering and FABO discuss demand and future opportunities within Africa’s burgeoning concrete equipment segment. According to analysis conducted by MarketWatch, the global value of the concrete plant and equipment industry is expected to reach approximately $18.4 billion by the end of 2022, growing to an estimated $22.2 billion within five years. In fact, the segment looks set to achieve a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% during the period 2017-2028. Of course, the requirement for concrete and its associated equipment tends to be highest in developing geographies, where large-scale real estate developments…

IVECO, UD Trucks, GORICA Group and Goldhofer Transport Technology speak to James Morgan about the latest innovations within the Middle East’s long-haul transportation segment. Commercial vehicles represent the backbone of most economies’ transport markets, but the Gulf – with its vast desert expanses and fledgling rail sector – is particularly dependent on lorry and body manufacturers to transport its goods from A to B. Analysts from Future Market Insights (FMI) predict that the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) truck market will grow from its current value of approximately $6.57 billion to reach $8.55 billion by 2027, representing a solid…

Although the fundamental design and applications of motor graders have remained largely unchanged over the years, manufacturers the world over are continuously striving to enhance productivity, efficiency and operator comfort through advanced technology. “Caterpillar always starts with the best in efficiency, effectiveness and power, and then makes its models even better with upgrades that enhance their most popular features,” explains Al-Bahar’s Ismail. “From the latest generation of advanced control joysticks to satellite-linked telematics, Caterpillar is constantly working to make the connection between operator and equipment more intuitive, responsive and flexible.” “In addition to road construction, civil engineering and mining activities…

TABE Hammers, Galen and MB Crusher tell James Morgan how they are capitalising on the vast untapped potential within Africa’s equipment attachments market. From road construction to mining, and pretty much every segment in between, attachments represent an attractive option for operators and contractors looking to achieve the best possible value from their existing fleet of machinery. It’s therefore no wonder that so many manufacturers are keen to grab a slice of this multibillion-dollar industry – especially in African markets. Researchers at Fact.MR anticipate the global market for equipment attachments will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4…

Al-Bahar, Powerplus, SDLG, Shantui and Masaha Global talk to James Morgan about renewed demand for the latest motor grader models across the Gulf and beyond. With the GCC’s road-related pipeline standing at more than $76 billion as of Q1 2021, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com, the development of  transport infrastructure represents big business across Gulf. However, as was the case for many industries, this sector was adversely affected by strict national lockdowns and global travel restrictions introduced to combat Covid-19. It’s therefore unsurprising that demand for motor graders took a hit during the pandemic. Fortunately, things appear to be looking up for…