Drum Handling Equipment Market Report 2026

The drum handling equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.89 billion in 2025 to $3.06 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of chemical and petroleum industries, growth in industrial material handling activities, increasing workplace safety regulations, rising use of drums for bulk material transport, availability of basic manual handling equipment.

The drum handling equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.05 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing automation in warehouses and factories, rising investments in smart material handling solutions, expansion of pharmaceutical and food processing industries, growing focus on ergonomics compliance, increased demand for efficient logistics operations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of automated drum handling systems, rising focus on worker safety and ergonomics, growing demand for electric and battery-powered drum lifters, expansion of drum handling in hazardous material environments, integration of smart sensors for load monitoring.

The growth of the chemical industry is expected to drive the expansion of the drum-handling equipment market in the coming years. Expansion in the chemical industry involves development and innovation, including increased capital investments in new areas. Drum-handling equipment enhances the efficiency of chemical handling operations by facilitating the safe movement of drums from one location to another. It also helps prevent spills and leaks by providing a secure and stable method for transporting drums. For example, in August 2024, the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government agency, reported that in June 2024, exports to non-EU countries increased by $1.15 billion (5.7%), driven by a $1.15 billion rise in chemical exports, primarily due to higher shipments of inorganic chemicals, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, and organic chemicals to the United States. Therefore, the expansion of the chemical industry is propelling the growth of the drum-handling equipment market.

Leading companies in the drum-handling equipment market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as hydraulic drum handlers, to enhance operational efficiency, improve workplace safety, reduce manual labor, and address the growing demand for efficient material handling across industrial and warehouse sectors. A hydraulic drum handler is a type of material handling equipment designed to lift, transport, tilt, and position heavy drums or barrels safely and efficiently using hydraulic power. For example, in October 2025, Global Industrial, a US-based industrial equipment manufacturer, launched the Hydraulic Drum Handler with Universal Grip and Adjustable Support, an advanced solution capable of securely accommodating various drum sizes. This hydraulic drum handler features a universal grip system that adjusts to different diameters, a robust hydraulic lifting mechanism for smooth vertical movement, and an adjustable support bracket for enhanced stability during transport. It reduces the risk of spills, improves operational efficiency, and is suitable for warehouses, factories, and chemical handling environments, combining safety, versatility, and ease of use to outperform conventional drum handling tools.

In July 2025, SILA Solutions Private Limited, an India-based provider of advanced logistics and storage solutions, partnered with Nilkamal to improve the distribution and accessibility of high-quality, sustainable storage and material handling solutions. Through this collaboration, SILA aims to expand its market presence and strengthen its capabilities in delivering innovative storage solutions. Nilkamal Limited, based in India, specializes in plastic products, including high-quality furniture, storage, and industrial solutions.

Major companies operating in the drum handling equipment market are Wesco Industrial Products LLC, KION Group AG, Jungheinrich AG, Hyster-Yale Group Inc., Crown Equipment Corporation, Hangcha Group Co. Ltd., Lonking Holdings Limited, SSI SCHAEFER Group, RUD Group, METO Systems Inc., EP Equipment Co. Ltd., Flexicon Corporation, Beacon Industries Inc., Pentalift Equipment Corporation, Greenfield Products LLC, Valley Craft Industries Inc., BHS Inc., Morse Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lift Products Inc., Material Flow and Conveyor Systems Inc., Ruger Industries Inc., Wuxi Tongyang Machinery Technology Co. Ltd., Drum Runner Material Handling Co., Easy Lift Equipment Company Inc., Eastwest Engineering & Electronics Pvt. Ltd., KIJEKA Engineers Pvt Ltd., Liftomatic Material Handling Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the drum handling equipment market in 2025. The regions covered in the drum handling equipment market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the drum handling equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The drum handling equipment market consists of sales of drum lifters and drum dispensers, drum dollies and trucks, forklift drum attachments, drum rotators and mixers, palletizers, drum handling cranes and drum transport systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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