Market Size and Development Trends of the Marine Crane Industry
Market Size
Global Level
Marine cranes are key equipment for maritime transportation and offshore operations, and the market continues to grow. According to a report by Huanyang Market Consulting, the global output value of ship - mounted Cargo Cranes is expected to reach 1184.2 million US dollars in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4% from 2023 to 2029. Offshore cranes are used in offshore oil and gas platforms, and their market size expands with the development of oil and gas fields; rail moving cranes connect maritime and rail transportation, and their demand rises due to the growth in container terminal throughput;jetty cranes serve as the main force in port loading and unloading, and are constantly updated with the growth of trade; dock cranes and shipyard cranes serve ship construction and maintenance, and are driven by the recovery of the shipbuilding industry; floating cranes are applied in water and land projects, and their market size steadily increases. From the perspective of the global lifting machinery market, since 2024, the economic recovery has promoted infrastructure investment. It is expected that the CAGR will be about 5% around 2025, and Marine Cranes will also benefit.
Chinese Market
There is a lack of accurate data on the marine crane industry in China. However, analyzing from the overall situation of the lifting machinery market, the upgrading of port construction, the expansion of the shipbuilding industry, and the development of emerging industries such as offshore wind power in recent years have promoted the market to develop positively. It is estimated that by 2025, the growth rate of China's lifting machinery market size (including complete machines and services) will remain at 5% - 8%. For example, the demand for offshore cranes has been upgraded due to the development of oil and gas resources in China's sea areas; rail moving cranes are being updated in large container ports to improve the efficiency of rail - sea intermodal transportation; jetty cranes are being replaced to adapt to the large - scale development of ships; the demand for dock cranes and shipyard cranes has increased significantly due to the high - end development of the shipbuilding industry; and the demand for floating cranes remains stable in infrastructure projects.
Development Trends
Leading the Way in Technological Innovation
Automation and digitization are driving the intelligent development of marine cranes. Offshore cranes use sensors and intelligent control systems to operate safely in harsh marine conditions; rail moving cranes use positioning sensors and algorithms for precise loading and unloading; jetty cranes achieve automated operation through image recognition; dock cranes and shipyard cranes use VR and AR technologies to improve operation accuracy; and floating cranes achieve remote monitoring and preventive maintenance.
Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Becoming a Necessity
With the tightening of environmental protection regulations, manufacturers are being pushed to develop energy - efficient products. In the future, marine cranes will adopt new - type energy - saving motors, optimize hydraulic systems, and apply intelligent energy management technologies to reduce energy consumption and pollution.
Adapting to the Demand for Larger - Sized Ships
The growth of global maritime trade is driving the large - scale development of ships. Ports and docks need to upgrade jetty cranes and dock cranes, increasing the lifting height, working radius, and lifting capacity to meet the loading and unloading requirements of large ships.
Expanding Markets in Emerging Fields
The rise of offshore wind power has brought opportunities for offshore cranes and floating cranes. High - performance cranes are required for the installation and operation and maintenance of wind power equipment. In addition, the development of marine resources will also release more demand.
In - Depth Adjustment of the Competitive Landscape
The global marine crane market is highly competitive, with companies like Konecranes and Liebherr dominating. With the development of the manufacturing industry in emerging economies, domestic companies such as Zhenhua Heavy Industry have emerged. The MAXTECH company has come to the fore with high - performance offshore cranes and shipyard cranes, using intelligent control and energy - saving and environmental - protection technologies. In the future, companies need to increase R & D efforts and enhance their competitiveness to seize market share.