Stock shortages are again tipped to drive a national machinery hire boom in 2021. Leading machinery platform, Machines4U.com.au, hosted more than 154,000 machinery sale listings last financial year and saw a sharp 96.2% increase in enquiries over the initial COVID-19 outbreak period. CEO Steve Krebs tips demand to be even stronger in 2021. Source: Timberbiz
“An inability to import new machinery, equipment and parts in a timely manner from overseas as a result of COVID-19 is driving up demand from Australian businesses and primary producers to hire equipment,” Mr Krebs said.
“Machines4U.com.au is Australia’s leading machinery marketplace, with a sales lead submitted every 6 minutes. But I believe next year our platform will shift gears to also become one of the largest for machinery hire.”
Mr Krebs anticipates machinery hire will be the biggest growth area in the sector next year as demand peaks and supplies dwindle.
The most in-demand pieces of equipment in 2021 will be:
- Excavators
- CNC metalworking machinery
- Tractors
- Panel saws
- Semi trailers
- Commercial trucks
- Forklifts
- Scissor lifts
- Scrubbers
- Conveyors
Mr Krebs said COVID-19 had also triggered an unprecedented explosion in demand for specialist woodworking and metalworking machinery.
“Australian manufacturers have to hire equipment so they can produce more parts domestically rather than being reliant on imported components,” Mr Krebs said.
“Interest in woodworking and metalworking machines has grown by more than 80% and cleaning machinery is up by 60% since last financial year.
“That demand will continue well into next year.”
Mr Krebs said stock shortages, combined with a boom in online retailing, the Instant Asset Write Off Scheme and a buoyant food market, has led to a 120% increase in searches for agricultural machinery and a 142% increase in searches for trucks in the past year.
Of the 5.4 million unique visitors to the Machines4U.com.au website, more than 470,000 were specifically searching for trucks to buy. The most popular search – commercial Isuzu trucks, followed by Kenworth semi trailers.
“The smaller commercial trucks will be highly prized in 2021 because they’re perfect for making online deliveries in busy metro areas,” Mr Krebs said.
“We anticipate online deliveries to grow again in 2021 driving demand for truck and material handling equipment, such as conveyors in 2021.”
