The ship-to-shore cranes market involves loading and unloading of containers and cargo from vessels docked at ports. Ship-to-shore cranes are equipped with lifting gears such as grabs, spreader beams and lifting hooks to handle containers of various sizes and weights. They enjoy high demand from container ports, bulk material handling ports, and general cargo and multipurpose terminals. Ship-to-shore cranes offer efficient handling of containers and reduce turnaround time of vessels. They help improve productivity and ensure smooth movement of cargo.
The Global Ship-To-Shore Cranes Market Demand is estimated to be valued at US$ 1.49 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the ship-to-shore cranes market are ZPMC, Liebherr, Konecranes, Sany, Kalmarglobal and Anupam Industries.
The growing sea-borne trade volumes, especially container traffic is driving demand for modern ship-to-shore cranes from ports. Container traffic has been growing at a rate of around 5% each year. This has necessitated increased handling capacities at ports.
Technological advancements such as remote monitoring, automation, IoT integration have made ship-to-shore cranes more productive, efficient and safe to operate. Advanced cranes offer features such as auto-steering, twistlocks, load sensors and remote diagnostics.
Market Trends
Growing automation - Major players are focusing on developing autonomous and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes that require minimal human intervention. Automation helps improve productivity and reduce labor costs.
Increasing electrification - Many cranes are incorporating lithium-ion batteries and electric propulsion systems instead of traditional diesel engines. This helps reduce emissions and operational costs.
Market Opportunities
Development of new ports - Emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Africa are investing heavily in the development of new ports. This presents lucrative opportunities for ship-to-shore crane suppliers.
Move towards larger fleet sizes - Global terminals are opting for bigger ship-to-shore cranes that can accommodate larger container ships. This translates into replacements and expansion opportunities.
Impact of COVID-19 on Ship-to-Shore Cranes Market Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the ship-to-shore cranes market. During the initial lockdown phases imposed across various nations, the supply chain and logistics activities were disrupted. This led to a decline in demand from end-use industries like port terminals, container terminals, and others. The reduced economic activities further dampened the demand for new ship-to-shore cranes and halted ongoing projects during 2020.
However, with improved global trade activities post lockdowns, the demand for ship-to-shore cranes has started reviving from 2021 onwards. The demand from high-capacity container ships has continued to drive the need for advanced ship-to-shore cranes that can handle heavier loads efficiently. Most major ports are also investing in port infrastructure upgradation projects involving new ship-to-shore cranes. This is expected to support the market growth during the forecast period.
The market players are focusing on innovations to develop remote-controlled and automation-enabled cranes that can minimize human intervention. Adopting advanced technologies can help improve operational efficiency and safety at ports. The demand for refurbished and retrofitted cranes is also rising as ports aim to upgrade ageing equipment with minimal capital investments. Overall, while the short-term impact of the pandemic was negative, the long-term outlook remains positive driven by seaborne trade revival and infrastructure modernization activities globally.
In terms of geographical regions, Europe accounts for the largest share of the global ship-to-shore cranes market in terms of value. This is attributed to the presence of some of the world’s busiest ports in countries like Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Italy. The demand for efficient port equipment to handle cargo volumes is continuously rising from this region. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to the rising maritime trade and increasing focus on port capacity expansions, especially in China and India.
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