INTERNATIONAL ANDSPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
■
JANUARY 2015
34
CRANE CONFIDENCESURVEY
For 2015 the outlook is similar, and
53.5 % of respondents forecast that rental
rates for 100 tonne capacity wheeled
mobile cranes, for example, will remain
the same. For the tower crane sector,
64 % of respondents forecast that rental
rates for 100 tonne-metre rated tower
cranes, for example, will also remain
the same. Fortunately, only 9.3 % are
forecasting that current rental rates for
tower craneswill decrease.
Global differences
Rental rates around the world vary widely.
In the USA, for example, the rental market
is getting stronger, andprices are improving
(some above the 2008 peak). “We see an
improvement in rental utilisation for large
300 US ton crawlers and rough terrain
cranes in the 90 and 110 ton capacity
classes,”one respondent told
IC
.
Results from this year’s survey show that
rates throughout North America in most
The annual
IC
crane confidence survey offers a
snapshot of theglobal crane rentalmarket and
whatmay lie ahead.
IC
reports
T
he overall trend reflected in this
year’s Crane Confidence Survey
is that market demand for lifting
services is increasing but rental rates are
not increasingat the same level.
Results from this year’s survey suggest
that overall, the crane rental market in
2014 improved, with 61.9% of respondents
stating that business activity increased,
while 23.8% noted it was stable. For 2015,
49.2 % of respondents feel that business
conditions will improve, while 33 % feel
that conditionswill remain the same.
According to nearly half of respondents,
utilisation rates are also forecast to improve
over the next 12 months, while a further
41.7 % expect utilisation to remain stable.
Despite a rise in utilisation, however, rental
rates are not expected to increase at the
same pace. In South Africa, for example,
crane rental is increasing, while profits
are not. For areas of Asia, one respondent
explained how contractors are buying their
own equipment so, even though utilisation
rates arehigh, rental revenue is lower.
“In Singapore, the crane rental market
is very competitive,” one respondent
explained, “Government projects aredrying
up and [we are] mainly relying on private
sectorprojectsnow.”
“There are too many cranes, fewer
projects and fewer crane operators,”
another respondent added. “Thebigplayers
in Singapore do not have many of their
cranes rented out, and will reduce their
rental price so they can secure the contract.”
Stagnant or falling rental rates are being
experienced across the sector. Over the
last 12 months, for example, only 27.3 %
of respondents recorded a rise in rental
rates for 100 tonne capacity wheeled
mobile cranes. Similar responses were also
noted for 70 tonne capacity crawler cranes
and 100 tonne-metre tower cranes, with
only 26.9 % reporting higher rental rates
compared to theprevious year.
Supplyand
demand
2015
FORECASTFORCHANGE INUTILISATIONRATES
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
50 tonne
capacity
wheeledmobile
crane
100 tonne
capacity
wheeledmobile
crane
150 tonne
capacity
wheeledmobile
crane
70 tonne
capacity
wheeled
crawler crane
150 tonne
capacity crawler
crane
100 tonne-
metre tower
crane
300 tonne-
metre tower
crane
Percentageof respondents
Higher
Same
Lower
