Thailand Construction Equipment Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2024-2029

Increased Investment in Public Infrastructure Projects

• In November 2023, the Department of Land Transport and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) signed an MoU to integrate land and rail transportation in Thailand. Under this agreement, the Department of Land Transport will invest in constructing truck terminals for nationwide goods distribution. At the same time, SRT will undertake initiatives, such as dual-track railway construction and new railway line projects, to expand its rail network and support the growth of the Thailand construction equipment market.
• In 2024, Thailand's Ministry of Transport plans to initiate construction on 14 infrastructure projects totaling USD 16.0 billion. These include significant rail projects like the Khon Kaen-Nong Khai dual-track railroad, the Bang Khun Non-Min Buri Orange Line, and the extension phases of the Red Line.
• Huasun Energy and Thai EPC Grow Energy agreed to provide 150 MW of heterojunction (HJT) modules. These modules will be utilized across various projects, including a floating photovoltaic (PV) project, ground power stations, and commercially distributed projects in Bangkok. Project operations were slated to begin in 2024.
• The Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 Development Project is a key initiative within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development strategy. It aims to improve connectivity and facilitate the transportation of goods to southern China and the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam).
• In December 2023, Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) entered into 25 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 12 solar projects in Thailand. These projects consist of five solar farms with a total capacity of 259.6 MW and seven solar farms with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) accounting for a total capacity of 385.2 MW. Commercial operations are estimated to commence between 2026 and 2029.
• In June 2023, the Pattaya City Administration approved the plans to construct four new monorail lines in Thailand. The project includes the Green, Yellow, Purple, and Red Lines, with the Green and Yellow Lines slated for completion in the first phase (2021-2026).

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Earthmoving equipment accounted for the largest market share of the Thailand construction equipment market in 2023. Excavators in the earthmoving segment accounted for the largest share in 2023. Rising investment in housing, port expansion, and public infrastructure projects is expected to drive the demand for excavators in the Thailand construction equipment market.
• The Thai government took multiple initiatives to promote the country's infrastructure industry.
• Chinese vendors have taken advantage of the opportunity to capture market share using various means.
• SANY has captured a 30.4% market share based on competitive pricing, digitalization, post-sales services, and increasing service network.
• XCMG is increasing its Thailand construction equipment market share by re-orienting its marketing strategy. The company is marketing its products online and selling them using methods like live bidding, giving its brand a premium positioning among its peers.
• Italthai Industry (ITI) Co. Ltd, a distributor of Volvo-SDLG-Tadano, is expanding its network nationwide to improve the sales of these companies' products. ITI is focusing on increasing sales of mini excavators by 50%.
• The recently introduced TM-ZX1205HRS loader crane is expected to augment sales within the Thailand construction equipment market, transportation, and logistics sectors. Tadano Italthai, the importer and distributor of Tadano cranes and lifting equipment in Thailand, showcased and demonstrated the TM-ZX1205HRS crane at the Saha Crane Auction Co., Ltd. in November 2023. The TM-ZX1205HRS features a new lifting capacity range of 12 tons within the Tadano TM crane series, filling the gap between the 10-ton TM-ZX1000 and 15-ton TM-ZX1500 series models. This crane is part of Tadano's new TM-ZX1200 series, which comprises a total of three models.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

Segmentation by Type

• Earthmoving Equipment
  • Excavator
  • Backhoe Loaders
  • Wheeled Loaders
  • Other Earthmoving Equipment (Other loaders, Bulldozers, Trenchers)
• Road Construction Equipment
  • Road Rollers
  • Asphalt Pavers
• Material Handling Equipment
  • Crane
  • Forklift & Telescopic Handlers
  • Aerial Platforms (Articulated Boom Lifts, Telescopic Boom lifts, Scissor lifts)
• Other Construction Equipment
  • Dumper
  • Tipper
  • Concrete Mixer
  • Concrete Pump Truck
• End Users
  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Manufacturing
  • Others (Power Generation, Utilities Municipal Corporations, Oil & Gas, Cargo Handling, Power Generation Plants, Waste Management)

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increased Focus on Lithium Mining

• The Ruangkiat deposit, confirmed by the Department of Primary Industries and Mines, contains over 14.8 million tonnes of lithium, enough to power at least 1 million electric vehicles with 50 kWh lithium batteries.
• Svolt Energy Technology Company, China's Great Wall Motor spin-off, has initiated mass production at Thailand's newly constructed electric vehicle (EV) battery assembly plant. The joint venture with Banpu Next, located near Chonburi, aims to supply the nearby Rayong province's EV industry.

Investment in Green Hydrogen

Power Generation Through Waste Management Triggers the Use of Excavators & Loaders

Increased Investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor Initiative to Boost the Thailand Construction Equipment Market

• The total investment value amounted to USD 23.62 billion, a significant 43% increase compared to the previous year. This marks the highest investment value in five years, indicating a positive trend in investment activity in infrastructure and supporting the growth of the Thailand construction equipment market.
• In March 2023, the Thai government started promoting several large-scale water transport projects, including an industrial port development project in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) district.

Rising Investments in Transit Projects Across Thailand to Support Road Construction Equipment in the Thailand Construction Equipment Market

Several transportation projects are under construction in Thailand:

• The Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani high-speed railway construction is scheduled for completion by 2028. This railway will drastically reduce travel time between Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani from 12 to 2 hours.
• The expansion of the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, including the completion of the Purple Line extension by 2026
• The construction of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) high-speed rail network links the EEC with the major cities in Thailand and neighboring countries; this network is anticipated to be operational by 2030.

Increased Focus on Boosting Green Energy Resources Across the Country

INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Rising Land and Housing Prices Restrict Residential Demand Across the Country

• According to the Bank of Thailand, Thai house prices are experiencing modest growth, with single-detached houses demonstrating a 3.6% year-on-year increase in Q3 2023. This follows a growth trend in the previous quarters, indicating increased property demand. House prices rose slightly by 0.3% (0.2% inflation-adjusted) in Q3 2023.
• In Bangkok and nearby areas, condominium prices increased by 4.8% (4.5% in real terms) in Q3 2023 compared to the previous year, contrasting with the 2% year-on-year decline in Q3 2022.

Economic and Political Uncertainties in Thailand to Hamper Construction Activity

• According to the NESDC, Thailand's slow economic growth in Q3 can be attributed to contractions in government spending, exports, and imports, which impacted both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
• The industrial sector declined by 2.8% over two consecutive quarters. Despite a substantial 8.1% expansion in private consumption, economic challenges persisted due to a 3.1% drop in exports. However, the services sector experienced a significant growth of 23.1% due to increased foreign tourist activities.
• In 2023, business groups in Thailand raised concerns about political instability negatively impacting the investment climate and foreign investor confidence.

Skilled Labor Shortage and Aging Population in Thailand

• Thailand's labor market is undergoing structural challenges intensified by the digital revolution, leading to the demand for swift adjustments from workers, businesses, and the government to achieve global competitiveness. Despite rapidly recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, persistent issues include workforce distribution shifts and declining productivity.
• The Thai economy heavily depends on foreign workers, with around 2.7 million employed in October 2022, primarily non-skilled. The Ministry of Labor states the presence of approximately 2.4 million general workers, and private sector data suggests a continued need for additional workers from neighboring countries, ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 people.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

• Caterpillar, Komatsu, Zoomlion, Hitachi Construction Machinery, SANY, XCMG, Kobelco, and Volvo CE are leaders in the Thailand construction equipment market. These companies have a substantial market share and offer diverse sets of equipment.
• Terex, CNH Industrial, LiuGong, Manitou, Kato Works Co. Ltd., Bobcat, Takeuchi, and Sakai are niche players in the Thailand construction equipment market. These companies offer low product diversification and have a strong presence in the Thai local market.
• Liebherr, Yanmar, JCB, Kubota, Sumitomo, Tadano, and HD Hyundai Construction Equipment are emerging in the Thai market. These companies are introducing new technologically advanced products to challenge the share of leaders in the Thailand construction equipment market.

Key Vendors

• Caterpillar
• Komatsu
• JCB
• Volvo Construction Equipment
• Hitachi Construction Machinery
• Kubota
• SANY
• Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG)
• Liebherr
• Kobelco
• Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
• SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.

Other Prominent Vendors

• Hyundai Construction Equipment
• Hidromek
• Liugong
• Yanmar
• Tadano
• Takeuchi Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Manitou Group
• KATO WORKS CO., LTD.
• GEHL
• MERLO Spa
• Bobcat
• Terex Corporation
• CNH Industrial
• AIRMAN
• Euromach
• Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery (SDLG)
• Ammann
• Haulotte
• Toyota Material Handling
• SAKAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
• Xiamen XGMA Machinery Company Limited
• JLG

Distributors Profiles

• Italthai Industrial Co., Ltd. (ITI)
• Leadway Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd.
• Avlo Group
• Paragon Machinery
• Metro CAT
• AVN Motor Work
• OEK Machinery Works
• Sahasin Equipment

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED