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Material Handling Equipment Market Size Forecast: How Large Could The Market Become By 2030?
The material handling equipment market has seen significant growth in recent years. It is projected to expand from $215.97 billion in 2025 to $230.44 billion in 2026, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. Historically, this growth can be attributed to factors like manufacturing capacity expansion, warehouse modernization, increased forklift penetration, demand from retail logistics, and industrial safety requirements.
The material handling equipment market is expected to demonstrate robust expansion over the next few years, with its size projected to reach $298.08 billion by 2030, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. This anticipated growth can be attributed to factors such as investments in e-commerce warehouses, the adoption of smart logistics, the electrification of industrial trucks, the increasing demand for high-density storage, and automation within distribution centers. Significant trends during this forecast period include the rising demand for automated industrial trucks, the expansion of racking and storage systems, an increase in continuous handling equipment, the integration of smart sensors, and a focus on energy-efficient equipment.
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Material Handling Equipment Market Growth Momentum: Which Factors Are Influencing Demand?
The material handling equipment market is projected to be propelled by the increasing integration of automated solutions and robotics moving forward. Automated solutions and robotics encompass the deployment of technology to develop systems that execute tasks and operations without direct human involvement, thereby streamlining processes and boosting efficiency across various industries. These automated systems and robotics specifically employ material handling equipment for effective transportation, sorting, and distribution, owing to their precision, speed, and capacity to handle repetitive tasks accurately. For instance, in September 2024, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), a non-profit organization based in Germany, announced that global industrial robotics installations reached 4.28 million units in 2023, indicating a 10% increase from 3.9 million units in 2022. Thus, this growing adoption of automated solutions is expected to drive the expansion of the material handling equipment market.
Material Handling Equipment Market Segment Performance And Strategic Opportunities
The material handling equipment market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Product Type: Cranes And Lifting Equipment, Industrial Trucks, Continuous Handling Equipment, Racking And Storage Equipment
2) By Operation Type: Manual Material Handling Equipment, Semi-Automated Material Handling Equipment, Automated Material Handling Equipment
3) By Application: Transportation And Conveying, Storage And Warehousing, Picking And Sorting, Loading And Unloading, Assembly Line Handling
4) By End-User Industry: Automotive, Food And Beverages, Chemical, Semiconductor And Electronics, E-commerce And Logistics, Aviation, Pharmaceutical, Other End-User Industries
Subsegments:
1) By Cranes And Lifting Equipment: Overhead Cranes, Gantry Cranes, Jib Cranes, Mobile Cranes, Hoists And Winches
2) By Industrial Trucks: Forklift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Reach Trucks, Tow Tractors, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
3) By Continuous Handling Equipment: Belt Conveyors, Roller Conveyors, Chain Conveyors, Bucket Elevators, Sortation Systems
4) By Racking And Storage Equipment: Selective Pallet Racking, Drive-In And Drive-Through Racking, Cantilever Racking, Mobile Racking Systems, Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems (ASRS)
Material Handling Equipment Market Trends: What Is Shaping Future Industry Growth?
Leading companies in the material handling equipment market are prioritizing innovation in products like automated pallet tracking, which offers live inventory visibility and streamlines warehouse operations to boost output and operational efficiency. Automated pallet tracking describes a technologically advanced mechanism that autonomously oversees and documents the relocation and position of pallets within storage or distribution facilities, eliminating the need for manual scanning or human intervention. For example, in March 2025, Gather AI, a U.S.-based firm specializing in warehouse automation and AI solutions for inventory visibility and material-handling optimization, introduced MHE Vision. This AI-driven camera system aims to enhance warehouse throughput by facilitating automated, real-time tracking of pallets and material-handling equipment. The system incorporates high-resolution cameras affixed to forklifts and automated pickers, combined with AI-powered analytics, to record and analyze inventory movements, track slot usage, identify damaged or misplaced items, and provide practical data for workflow improvements. Furthermore, its plug-and-play installation requires no new infrastructure, ensuring compatibility with current warehouse configurations and various types of material-handling equipment.
Material Handling Equipment Market Key Players: Which Companies Shape Industry Competition?
Major companies operating in the material handling equipment market are Beumer Group GmbH And Co. KG, Daifuku Co. Limited, KION Group AG, Toyota Industries Corporation, Honeywell International Incorporated, SSI Schäfer Group GmbH, Jungheinrich AG, Crown Equipment Corporation, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Incorporated, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Incorporated, Mecalux S.A., Liebherr Group, Swisslog Holding AG, Action Construction Equipment Limited, TGW Logistics Group GmbH, Viastore Systems GmbH, WITRON Logistik And Informatik GmbH, Cimcorp Automation Limited, Columbus McKinnon Corporation, Elettric80 S.p.A., Hanel GmbH And Co. KG, Hapman LLC, Hytrol Conveyor Company Incorporated, Jervis B. Webb Company, KITO Corporation, KNAPP AG
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Material Handling Equipment Market Geographic Distribution And Regional Opportunities
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the material handling equipment market share in 2025. The regions covered in the material handling equipment market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa
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Wasay has over a decade of experience in market research, data modelling, and analytics, with prior experience at GlobalData and Decision Tree Consulting Services. At The Business Research Company , he leads research operations across syndicated studies, customized consulting engagements, and the Global Market Model platform. His professional experience includes supporting organizations such as Boston Consulting Group, KPMG, and Ernst & Young. Wasay holds a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering, postgraduate management qualifications from International Management Institute Belgium and Indian School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and completed the Integrated Program in Business Analytics from Indian Institute of Management Indore.