The market of tower cranes in Russia: growth amid structural changes

The Russian tower crane market has gone through periods of boom and bust more than once over the past two decades, and today this "stable instability" remains its main characteristic.

By the end of 2024, the market showed a record result for the entire post-Soviet period of the 2010s and 2020s: the total volume of production and import of tower cranes reached 1,023 units. After restrained performance in 2019-2020, growth in 2021 and a turbulent 2022, the market not only held on, but also continued to grow actively: 508 units in 2023 and more than a thousand in 2024.

At the same time, the key feature of the market today is its obvious bias towards imported equipment. As of 2024, the share of new imported tower cranes was 91%. Moreover, the main role here is played by Chinese manufacturers, which in recent years have actually taken a dominant position. If the market was more diversified before 2022, now it is Chinese brands that form its basis.

Zoomlion, Dahan and XCMG are among the leaders in the supply of new imported tower cranes. According to the combined results of 2023-2024 and the beginning of 2025, these companies form the top three in the Russian market. This clearly shows how quickly the structure of the industry has changed and how much the influence of Asian suppliers has grown.

Against this background, the situation of domestic production is particularly noticeable. After the crises, bankruptcies and a long recession, one key manufacturer of tower cranes, Nyazepetrovsky LMZ, actually remained in Russia. Despite serious import pressure, the company continues to produce machinery, modernizes the Grif crane line, develops new models and relies on import substitution of individual components and solutions.

At the same time, the scale of Russian production is not yet comparable with the volume of imports. If in 2024 the market share of the Nyazepetrovsky LMZ was about 5%, then the share of imported equipment remains overwhelming. However, the very fact of preserving a domestic manufacturer and its technological development is an important signal for the market.

The tower crane market today is no longer just about construction and equipment supplies. This is an indicator of broader processes in the industry: changes in investment activity, restructuring of supply chains, strengthening the role of Chinese brands, finding a balance between price and technology, as well as a gradual movement towards localization and import substitution.

That is why the dynamics of this segment deserves special attention.: It reflects not only the state of the construction market, but also how the entire industry is adapting to the new economic conditions.

Read more on the pages of CTT Digest magazine: https://view.leafment.com/777t4vI47K1277?p=20

CTT Expo traditionally features companies with tower cranes — they bring their solutions and demonstrate the technique in practice, as well as literally elevate the exhibition to a new height. Booms and masts become the main visual accent of the site, they can be seen from afar. Therefore, CTT Expo gets the status of the "highest exhibition" honestly — here records are measured not only by interest, but also by meters above the ground.

Free ticket to CTT Expo: https://ctt-expo.ru/registration?payed_promocode=TGCTT See you from May 26 to May 29 at the Crocus Expo IEC

P.S. The first two photos were taken directly from the tower crane, allowing you to see the exhibition from an unusual angle for visitors.