Author: James Morgan

Manitowoc’s Andrew A. Youssef and Liebherr’s Marius Kleck speak to James Morgan about the ever-rising demand for mobile cranes across the Middle East. Thanks to their speedy setup times, versatility and – as the name suggests – mobility, mobile cranes have represented a go-to utility tool for Middle East contractors for decades. From the region’s iconic skyscrapers and large-scale residential projects to its maritime and energy sectors, these fleet-footed heavy lifters have played a pivotal role in the Gulf’s rapid development. Analysts from Business Market Insights expect the Middle East and Africa’s (MEA) mobile crane market to reach almost $1.9…

Amjad Lutfi Atieh explains what it takes to source used Cat and SEM machines that are equipped to meet the exacting standards of Al-Bahar’s customer base. Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar – often referred to as Al-Bahar – has been supplying equipment to customers in the Middle East for more than 60 years. Since its formation in 1959, the Sharjah-headquartered company has established operations across the Gulf region, acting as the official Caterpillar dealer, offering Cat and SEM products in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Al-Bahar has succeeded in building an enviable reputation within a diverse array of market segments,…

Manitou’s Morad Benayad, Bobcat’s Nicolas Dumont and JCB’s Andrew Boyers tell Plant & Equipment about current and expected levels of demand for backhoe loaders in Africa. Small but powerful, versatile and dependable, the backhoe loader has revolutionised the construction industry since it was first introduced more than 75 years ago. Used for everything from minor demolition applications to large-scale infrastructure works, everyone familiar with this sector is sure to know a thing or two about these multifunctional masters. According to Coherent Market Insights, the value of the global market for backhoe loaders stood at $2.67 billion in 2022 and is…

Bobcat and XCMG speak with James Morgan about growing levels of demand for mini and mid-sized excavators across African construction markets. When it comes to global development, few regions boast greater potential than Africa. The continent’s construction market is currently valued at more than $380 billion, according to data from Mordor Intelligence, and is on course to achieve an extremely healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% during the period 2023-28. This, of course, is music to the ears of manufacturers supplying machinery to the region – especially those producing earthmoving equipment, which represents a staple on job sites…

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…