Telehandlers market seen topping $6B by 2030 as Asia-Pacific leads growth

The global telescopic boom forklift truck market is projected to exceed $6 billion by 2030, driven by construction, infrastructure, and material-handling demand. Asia-Pacific is set to be the fastest-growing region, while fuel-powered telehandlers remain the largest segment.

Why it matters: - Telescopic boom forklift trucks, also known as telehandlers, sit at the center of construction, logistics, agriculture, and industrial material handling. - The market’s growth signals rising demand for equipment that can lift, reach, and move loads on rough terrain while improving productivity. - The shift toward electric, hybrid, and connected machines also shows how safety and emissions pressures are reshaping fleet purchases.

What happened: - The Business Research Company projected the global telescopic boom forklift truck market will surpass $6 billion by 2030. - The market is expected to grow at an 8% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - Asia-Pacific is forecast to lead regional growth, reaching $2.4 billion by 2030 from $1.6 billion in 2025. - China is projected to be the largest national market in the region, rising to $1.3 billion by 2030 from $0.8 billion in 2025. - Fuel-powered telehandlers are expected to remain the dominant power source, capturing 73% of the market by 2030, or about $5 billion.

The details: - The market is part of the larger Building & Road Construction Equipment segment, which is forecast to reach about $321 billion by 2030. - Within the broader machinery industry, the telehandler market represents nearly 0.1% of the total forecasted $5,280 billion market size. - The market is segmented by power source into electric, fuel, and hybrid models. - The market is also segmented by lift height: less than 20 feet, 20 to 50 feet, 50 to 70 feet, and over 70 feet. - End users include construction, utility, logistics and transportation, and other sectors. - Growth is being driven by construction and infrastructure investment, greater demand for efficient material-handling equipment, and adoption of electric and hybrid telehandlers with advanced safety features. - Commercial buildings, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, renewable energy projects, and housing development are creating demand for versatile lifting equipment. - Multifunctional telehandlers are gaining use in warehousing, logistics, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing because they can replace multiple machines. - Fleet operators are adopting telematics, stability controls, collision avoidance systems, remote diagnostics, and intelligent fleet management tools. - Manitou Group led global sales in 2025 with a 5% share. - Liebherr-International Aktiengesellschaft and Merlo S.p.A. each held 5% in 2025. - CNH Industrial N.V. held 4% in 2025. - J C Bamford Excavators Ltd. held 0.4% in 2025. - Doosan Bobcat held 0.3% in 2025. - CLAAS KGaA mbH, Dieci S.r.l., Magni Telescopic Handlers S.r.l., and SANY Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. each held 0.1% in 2025. - The top ten companies accounted for 21% of revenue in 2025, showing a moderately fragmented market. - The supply chain includes steel producers, component suppliers, rental companies, dealers, and major end users across construction and logistics.

Between the lines: - The market is growing, but not consolidating quickly. - A 21% top-ten share suggests room for regional specialists and niche product makers. - Fuel-powered machines still dominate because heavy outdoor work, long duty cycles, and rough-terrain use remain hard to fully electrify. - The growth of electric and hybrid models points to a gradual transition rather than a rapid replacement of diesel units. - Product differentiation is shifting toward reach, visibility, hydraulics, connectivity, and safety systems rather than lifting capacity alone.

What's next: - Manufacturers are likely to keep investing in assistance systems, telematics, hydraulic performance, and compact designs for tighter job sites. - Battery improvements and fleet modernization could expand electric and hybrid telehandler adoption. - Asia-Pacific, especially China, is expected to remain a key growth engine through 2030. - The market’s biggest gains are projected to come from fuel-powered units, which are expected to add about $1 billion in value between 2025 and 2030. - Electric units are projected to add about $0.4 billion, while hybrids are projected to add about $0.2 billion.

The bottom line: - Telehandlers are on track for steady global expansion through 2030, with construction demand and equipment modernization doing most of the work.