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Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Anthony Kelly Anthony Kelly Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2024 ANZSIC E3292

Revenue

$3.7bn

2024-25

$3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

14,240

Businesses

2,085

Wages

$X.Xbn

Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia industry analysis

The Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry generates the bulk of its revenue from supplying cranes, pile drivers, concrete pumping equipment and skilled operators for high-rise commercial building and apartment projects. The industry also provides specialist heavy machinery and personnel for large-scale mining and infrastructure projects, like installing wind turbines. Divergent trends in critical building and infrastructure markets have moderated the industry's performance. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is expected to climb at an annualised 0.4% to $3.7 billion, despite a contraction of 1.2% in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Favourable trends in the construction of commercial, institutional and industrial buildings have fuelled growth in the delivery of lift-hire solutions. Several larger and specialist contractors have benefited from positive developments in the infrastructure and mining markets.
  • Specialist work on infrastructure and mining projects has boosted the need for contract lift services. These services require equipment suppliers to take full responsibility for the lift, from project design and supervising crane operation to preparing a Safe Work Method Statement.
  • There is a heavy skew in industry activity towards Queensland, which accounts for one-quarter of all enterprises. Queensland's share is boosted by its many resource developments, like LNG plants, along with infrastructure developments like the Cross River Rail project.
  • The low market share concentration tends to strengthen buyers' bargaining power. Buyers include prominent non-residential building, infrastructure and mining companies, like CPB Contractors, LendLease and BHP.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Lifting solutions have gained ground on non-residential building projects

  • Overall favourable investment conditions in the non-residential building market have generated opportunities for equipment rental and skilled contracting through 2024-25, including high-rise and wide-span crane systems and concrete pumping machinery.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Lifting solutions for high-rise apartment projects provide growth opportunities

  • The rental of high-rise cranes, hoists, heavy construction equipment and skilled personnel in the residential building market represents the principal driver of revenue expansion through 2029-30. The bulk of this growth will come from supplying sophisticated cranes and operators on multi-storey apartment projects.

Biggest companies in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Tutt Bryant
267.0
Boom Logistics
189.0
Freo
127.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Subcontract lift services, Contract lift services and Dry hire services. Subcontract lift services is the largest segment of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Subcontract lift services are balanced between the apartment and non-residential building markets

  • A subdued requirement for tower cranes and hoists for high-rise apartment building construction has been offset by solid conditions for high-rise and wide-span lifting services in the non-residential building markets. The balance of these markets has contributed to stable revenue generated by subcontract lift services.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms hire out machinery, equipment (mainly cranes) and operators for use on a range of construction and industrial projects.

What's included in this industry?

Subcontract lift servicesContract lift servicesDry hire servicesCrane operator hireAncillary worker hire

Companies

Tutt BryantBoom LogisticsFreo

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CRANE SUPERVISORRIGGERSDOGMENWET HIREDRY HIRESAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT (SWMS)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 3292 - Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Favourable trends in the construction of commercial, institutional and industrial buildings have fuelled growth in the delivery of lift-hire solutions. Several larger and spe...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Specialist work on infrastructure and mining projects has boosted the need for contract lift services. These services require equipment suppliers to take full responsibility ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

There is a heavy skew in industry activity towards Queensland, which accounts for one-quarter of all enterprises. Queensland's share is boosted by its many resource developme...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The low market share concentration tends to strengthen buyers' bargaining power. Buyers include prominent non-residential building, infrastructure and mining companies, like ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

A handful of medium-to-large crane hire contractors, like Tutt Bryant, Boom Logistics and Mammoet Australia, focus on providing lift solutions in the mining and infrastructure...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Tutt Bryant's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Boom Logistics's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Freo's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Tutt Bryant, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Boom Logistics, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Freo, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Commonwealth Government funding for land transport infrastructure is provided through the Infrastructure Investment Program. Public investment is currently driving constructi...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Contractors have trimmed depreciation charges by stabilising the fleet of machinery and equipment in the resources and infrastructure markets. Contractors incur substantial e...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia is $3.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 2,085 businesses in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire market in Australia are Tutt Bryant, Boom Logistics and Freo

What does the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia include?

Subcontract lift services and Contract lift services are part of the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Tutt Bryant.

How competitive is the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Construction Machinery and Operator Hire industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Contract Mining Services in Australia
  • Heavy Industry and Other Non-Building Construction in Australia
  • Site Preparation Services in Australia
  • Mining and Industrial Machinery Wholesaling in Australia

International industries

  • Heavy Equipment Rental in the US
  • Heavy Equipment Rental in Canada
  • Construction Machinery and Operator Hire in New Zealand
  • Bricklaying & Other Specialised Construction Services in the UK
  • Construction Equipment Rental & Leasing in Germany

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.