Trends influencing the used industrial equipment market

Pickles Industrial examines some of the most common factors affecting buyers and vendors in the used machinery sector.

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As 2025 draws to a close, it's clearer every day that making the right choice in an unpredictable market is particularly difficult.

In the wake of the 2025 Australian election, the civil market has been characterised by a residential sector in recovery, along with increased government support for infrastructure projects.

In addition, ongoing challenges such as cost escalation, labour shortages and supply chain disruptions are playing their part, with buyers and vendors navigating the ebbs and flows.

The past decade has seen trends shift drastically, leaving businesses to hope for a reprieve to consider their next moves.

However, the industrial equipment market has always been characterised by a fluctuating nature, meaning that whether you are buying or selling, forecasting the future is a challenge.

Being mindful of the reality of a changing market allows insiders to be proactive, with practicality proving to be a winning approach for both new and established businesses alike.

To help you steer through the coming months, here are 10 common trends influencing the used industrial equipment market of late.

1. How infrastructure and construction is faring

The activity levels of infrastructure and construction projects have a noticeable effect on the used industrial equipment market.

Accounting for about 10 per cent of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), civil works are the foundation of our economic and social development.

Demand in the used market is driven by the investment into roads, rail, mining and civil works by the government and private sector.

Currently, in post-election Australia, infrastructure surges prompted by a clearer direction for the sector — with a heavy emphasis on renewables — have led to unique demands for the secondhand market.

2. The state of mining and resources