MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2025-2032)

Material Handling Equipment Market Size and Forecast – 2025 to 2032

The global material handling equipment market is estimated to be valued at USD 242.51 Bn in 2025 and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2025 to 2032, reaching USD 369.73 Bn by 2032.

Key Takeaways from the Material Handling Equipment Market Report

• Based on Product, cranes & lifting equipment segment is expected to account for 34% of the global material handling equipment market share in 2025. This is attributable to rising adoption of these equipment in various end-use industries.
• By Application, automotive segment is estimated to contribute the highest market share of 23.8% in 2025, due to robust manufacturing activities.
• Based on Region, Asia Pacific, with an estimated market share of 41.7% in 2025, is projected to lead the global material handling equipment industry.
• Latin America is set to exhibit fastest growth during the forecast period.

Market Overview

The global material handling equipment market size is poised to grow steadily, owing to increasing automation and technology integration across industries for warehouse automation. Adoption of autonomous vehicles, robotics, and IoT-enabled solutions can also drive market growth.

Growing e-commerce sector and focus on warehouse automation are expected to boost material handling equipment market demand during the forecast period. Companies are developing advanced material handling solutions to capitalize on emerging opportunities. For instance, in November 2023, Universal Robots introduced the UR30 cobot, which is designed for applications like material handling, machine tending, and high-torque screw driving.

Current Events and Its Impact

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Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Material Handling Equipment Market

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is turning out to be a powerful tool in the material handling equipment market. It has the tendency to enhance efficiency, safety, and decision-making across logistics and industrial operations.

AI-powered solutions enable predictive maintenance, thereby reducing downtime as well as extending equipment lifespan. Intelligent automation, such as autonomous forklifts and robotic systems, optimizes warehouse management by streamlining inventory tracking, order picking, and routing.

Many companies are embracing the AI trend by using autonomous material handling solutions. Walmart, for instance, in April 2024 rolled out 19 self-driving forklifts from Fox Robotics at four of its U.S. distribution centers. These forklifts are being used to automate tasks at the loading docks.

Segmental Insights

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Material Handling Equipment Market Insights, By Product - Cranes & Lifting Equipment Dominate the Market Due to High Adoption Across Various Sectors

In terms of product, cranes & lifting equipment segment is estimated to contribute the highest market share of 34.0% in 2025, owing to their high demand from end-use industries. Cranes and lifting equipment form the backbone of material handling across various industries due to their ability to efficiently transfer heavy payloads from one location to another. These machines efficiently aid manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure.

Leading industry players are capitalizing on this trend by introducing advanced cranes and other lifting equipment. For instance, in August 2024, Konecranes launched the new smart, connected Konecranes X-series for industrial lifting. The new crane series features a modern, efficient electrical design and strong connectivity, further propelling the material handling equipment market revenue.

Material Handling Equipment Market Insights, By Application - Automotive Segment Leads Due to High Automation Adoption in Vehicle Manufacturing

Based on application, automotive segment is estimated to contribute the highest market share of 23.8% in 2025. This is attributable to robust manufacturing activities and high adoption of automation in the automotive sector.

Automotive industry is a major user of material handling equipment, with high demand for intralogistics solutions in different manufacturing and assembly plants. Robust automobile production worldwide can stimulate the implementation of modernized material handling infrastructure within automobile plants.

There is a growing trend among automotive manufacturers to use advanced material handling solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize the risk of injuries. One major example is BMW's recent use of an electric autonomous platform truck at its Regensburg production plant in Germany. This advanced material handling equipment is designed to transport press tools as well as steel blanks, with a payload capacity of up to 55 tonnes.

Regional Insights

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Asia Pacific Material Handling Equipment Market Analysis & Trends

Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global material handling equipment market in 2025, with an estimated market share of 41.7%. The market growth can be attributed to well-established manufacturing and logistics industries.

Material handling equipment vendors in the region have significantly invested in technologies to optimize supply chain management. This is due to robust economic growth and rising demand for efficient warehouse operations.

Latin America Material Handling Market Analysis & Trends

Latin America material handling equipment market is expected to exhibits fastest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to expanding industrialization, rise of e-commerce and logistics activities, supportive government policies, and growing investments in manufacturing and warehousing infrastructure.

Countries like Brazil and other Latin American nations are seeing growth in manufacturing and e-commerce. For example, in September 2025, MercadoLibre, the largest e-commerce platform in Latin America, started a new business-to-business (B2B) unit for corporate clients in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. This is expected to increase demand for automated and efficient material handling solutions, like conveyors, forklifts, and automated storage and retrieval systems in the region during the forthcoming period.

Material Handling Equipment Market Outlook Country-Wise

China Material Handling Equipment Market Trends

China's market remains robust with continued foreign investment and rising need for sophisticated distribution center logistics amid the 'Belt and Road' initiative. China is the world’s biggest producer and user of material handling equipment.

High demand comes from its manufacturing, logistics, and fast-growing cities. Growing use of automation in warehouses and distribution centers, especially for e-commerce, is expected to boost market growth during the forthcoming period.

China is home to some of the world’s leading manufacturers of advanced material handling equipment. These players are constantly upgrading their product portfolios by introducing advanced material handling solutions.

For instance, in July 2025, ABB launched three new robot families, including Lite+, PoWa, and IRB1200, to support China expansion in advanced manufacturing. These robots are designed to handle important tasks, from moving materials to more complex jobs like dispensing and polishing, in industries such as electronics, food and beverage, and metals.

Japan Material Handling Equipment Market Trends

Japan continues to lead in material handling equipment with collaborative robot solutions and automation integrated with artificial intelligence for smart factories and warehouses. It is a leader in automation and robotics, which directly impacts the material handling sector.

Japan’s advanced manufacturing base and focus on technological innovation, especially in robotics, logistics, and warehouse automation, are boosting market growth. Companies in the nation are increasingly employing automatic material handling solutions to boost efficiency.

Amazon's Chiba fulfillment center near Tokyo has become a leading example of advanced automation, where robots now outnumber human workers. The facility uses modern technologies, like automated packing machines and advanced sorting systems, which have greatly increased storage space and made operations more efficient.

Material Handling Equipment Industry News

• In March 2025, Daifuku unveiled cutting-edge material handling innovations at ProMat 2025. This includes Robot Depalletization, Conveyor Products, Shuttle/ASRS Systems, High-Speed Sortation, Dainamics Warehouse Execution Software, and Automated Guided Vehicles. These advanced automated material handling systems and solutions are designed to improve efficiency and productivity across various industries.
• In August 2025, KION Group opened a new location in Vietnam. KION Vietnam will allow the company to offer its advanced material handling and warehouse automation solutions to one of the region’s most dynamic markets.
• In April 2025, Daifuku Co., Ltd. announced construction of a new manufacturing plant in Hyderabad, India. This new facility is designed to meet the growing demand for material handling systems in the region.

Market Report Scope

Material Handling Equipment Market Report Coverage

Market Dynamics

Material Handling Equipment Market Drivers

Material Handling Equipment Market Driver – Increasing Automation in Warehousing and Manufacturing

With rising need for increased efficiency and productivity in warehousing and manufacturing operations, automation has become an integral part of the material handling process. Labor costs have been rising steadily over the years, thus compelling companies to invest in automated machinery and equipment that can perform repetitive and hazardous tasks with better precision and speed. Advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and other technologies are enabling higher level of automation in areas such as order picking, packaging, palletizing, transportation within facilities.

Rise of Robotics in Material Handling Equipment Industry

Manufacturing companies in the contemporary world are striving for novel ways to enhance their material handling processes to reduce costs and drive greater throughput. This desire for increased efficiency and cost-cutting is encouraging businesses to adopt robotics.

Robots are becoming ideal for repetitive tasks like picking and packing, freeing human workers up for more complex tasks. Likewise, autonomous guided vehicles are being utilized to transport materials within metalworking facilities, improving efficiency and safety.

Collaborative robots are transforming material handling operations. This is due to their ability to work alongside humans to perform repetitive tasks and ensure accuracy. As a result, their adoption rate is increasing drastically. For instance, according to Oxford Economics, robots will likely replace around 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030.

Material Handling Equipment Market Opportunity – Emergence of Green and Sustainable Material Handling Solutions

Major opportunities for this market include growing demand for green and sustainable solutions. With increasing focus on reducing carbon footprint and environmental impact of operations, companies across industries are exploring greener options for material and component movement within their facilities. This presents a major opportunity for material handling equipment manufacturers to develop and offer eco-friendly solutions powered by renewable energy sources and incorporating recycled/recyclable components.

Analyst Opinion (Expert Opinion)

• The material handling equipment market is moving from traditional, labor-heavy systems to smart, automated solutions. This change is driven by labor shortages, safety concerns, and the ongoing need for higher efficiency.
• Automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Technologies such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are gaining traction. These systems are not merely replacing manual labor; they are redefining the operational landscape by enhancing speed as well as accuracy and scalability.
• Safety is a critical driver of this shift. In the United States alone, forklifts are responsible for approximately 7,500 injuries and nearly 100 fatalities annually. In response, companies like Ipex, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla are moving away from forklifts, opting for safer alternatives such as overhead cranes, autonomous vehicles, and electric pallet jacks.
• The e-commerce boom has further accelerated the need for advanced MHE solutions. With the increasing demand for faster order fulfillment, traditional material handling methods are proving inadequate. Automated systems offer the speed as well as efficiency required to meet these demands, positioning automation as a critical component of competitive advantage in the logistics sector.

Market Segmentation

• Product Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2025 - 2032)
• Cranes & Lifting Equipment
• Industrial Trucks
• Continuous Handling Equipment
• Racking & Storage Equipment
• Others
• Application Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2025 - 2032)
• Automotive
• Food & Beverages
• Chemical
• Semiconductor & Electronics
• E-commerce
• Aviation
• Pharmaceutical
• Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2025 - 2032)
• North America
• U.S.
• Canada
• Latin America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America
• Europe
• Germany
• U.K.
• Spain
• France
• Italy
• Russia
• Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• ASEAN
• Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
• GCC Countries
• Israel
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
• BEUMER GROUP
• Daifuku Co., Ltd.
• Honeywell International, Inc.
• KION GROUP AG
• Mecalux, S.A.
• Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• SSI SCHAEFER
• Swisslog Holding AG
• TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
• Vanderlande Industries B.V.

Sources

Primary Research interviews

• Equipment manufacturers
• Warehouse operators and logistics managers
• Industrial automation solution providers
• Supply chain and operations directors in manufacturing and e-commerce

Databases

• World Bank Open Data
• UN Comtrade Database
• International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Map
• U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Data
• Eurostat

Magazines

• Material Handling & Logistics
• Modern Materials Handling
• Warehouse & Logistics News
• Industrial Equipment News

Journals

• Journal of Manufacturing Systems
• International Journal of Production Research
• International Journal of Logistics Management
• Materials Handling Review

Newspapers

• The Wall Street Journal – Logistics Section
• Financial Times – Supply Chain & Industry Section
• The Economic Times – Manufacturing & Logistics
• The New York Times – Business & Industry

Associations

• Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA)
• Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC)
• European Materials Handling Federation (FEM)
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)

Public Domain sources

• Government reports on manufacturing and logistics (e.g., U.S. Department of Commerce, India Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
• OECD Industrial Outlook
• FAO and UNCTAD trade and logistics reports
• Patent databases for material handling technologies

Proprietary Elements

• CMI Data Analytics Tool
• Proprietary CMI Existing Repository of information for last 8 years