Ritchie Bros., one of the largest equipment marketplaces worldwide, said it has experienced strong auction demand during the “Start 2025 Strong” campaign with over 17,300 bidders from across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific taking part.
This is the highest number of bidders recorded in these regions over the past five years, reflecting the growing global appetite for industrial assets. The bidder participation increased by 21% compared to the same period last year.
As supply tightens and demand remains high, equipment owners have a prime opportunity to ‘Sell Smarter This Spring,’ turning unused machinery into capital ahead of the busy season, it stated.
"With OEM prices rising and supply constraints limiting availability, many owners are holding onto their assets longer, tightening the market and sustaining high price level," remarked Duncan Ainscough, the Head of International Sales at Ritchie Bros.
"This competitive bidding presents an opportunity for optimal returns for sellers, making this an ideal moment to sell," he stated.
According to Ritchie Bros., the Start 2025 Strong campaign was a big success recording sale of over 20,000 units, thus marking a 17% year-on-year growth.
It attracted over 17,300 bidders and 6,400 buyers from across the globe, both figures setting five-year records for this period in the region.
Top buyer countries
During the Campaign, the top buyer countries were Australia, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France who raced to buy top equipments such as hydraulic excavators, MFWD tractors, telescopic forklifts, wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks.
"Our results show what happens when sellers and buyers trust a platform that consistently delivers," said David Fanning, the Director, International Marketing at Ritchie Bros.
"We’re not just meeting demand - we’re leading the market with scale, transparency, global reach, reputation and results," he added.
The performance is driven by Ritchie Bros.’ strategic investments in international marketing and platform reach, which continue to attract sellers seeking strong results and buyers in search of valuable opportunities.
Dubai auction a big success
Ritchie Bros. Dubai kicked off the year with a successful two-day auction on February 24, selling over 1,400 lots and drawing buyers from 82 countries. The highest bidder participation came from the UAE, US, Canada, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
The top auctioner said the tightening supply is driving a surge in bidder activity, and seller conditions this spring remain favourable.
Bidder activity early this year increased by 21% compared to the same period in 2024, with over 17,000 participants across Ritchie Bros. auctions and Marketplace-E.
Participation in high-value lots - those above £10,000 ($13,362.2) - rose by 14%, while the average number of bidders per item sold grew by 5%.
Buyer activity followed a similar trend, with over 6,000 buyers recorded across both platforms, it stated.
"Sellers are turning to Ritchie Bros. Auctions and Marketplace-E to achieve strong returns," remarked Duncan Ainscough.
"Our growing participation confirms that more companies see us as their preferred trusted selling partner," he stated.
Upcoming international auctions
Ritchie Bros. is set to continue its strong performance in the second quarter, with upcoming auctions scheduled across its international network:
*Moerdijk, Netherlands – 23-24 April
*Maltby, United Kingdom – 14-15 May
*Caorso, Italy – 22 – 23 May
*Ocana, Spain – 11-12 June
*Meppen, Germany – 12-13 June
*Dubai, UAE – 17-18 June
*Australia National Auction – 18-19 June
*France Online Auction – 24-26 June
*Maltby, United Kingdom – 25-26 June
*Marketplace-E – Ongoing, 24/7 online Marketplace
On the surging demand, Huw Richards, General Manager of Walters Group UK, said: "Ritchie Bros. presented a bespoke strategy that perfectly aligned with our needs, leveraging their timed auctions and Marketplace-E. Their understanding of our requirements, combined with their successful track record, made them the ideal choice."
For buyers, Ritchie Bros. offers unmatched transparency and integrity, including fair market pricing with no seller buy-backs, no hidden re-lists, and no reserve prices—every item is sold to the highest bidder, he stated.
As one of the largest equipment marketplaces worldwide, Ritchie Bros. provides wide selection, cross-border reach, and where needed, with logistics support available through our service partners, making equipment sourcing easier and more reliable than ever.-TradeArabia News Service