Rubber Tired Gantry Crane Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane Market Size

Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane Market Trends & Drivers

Shifting Global Inclination to Sustainable Future

The continuous growth in global trading, urbanization, and industrialization has resulted in a massive increase in carbon emissions. Among port handling equipment, approximately 10% of the emission is due to diesel-fueled RTG cranes. To overcome this, hybrid and electric RTG cranes are increasingly being used.

• In this era of the energy revolution, every nation is focusing on infrastructure and trade advancement, which are the leading causes of the increase in carbon emissions.
• To keep a balance between industrial development and environmental health, technologies that can allow for the implementation of sustainable energy sources in place of conventional ones need to be developed. In the case of port and logistics operations, RTG cranes that are operated by batteries in place of fuel is an example of this energy transition.
• Moreover, compared to traditional cranes, RTGs can carry heavier loads with higher safety, are integrated with VFD controllers, enable 360-degree operations, and possess low maintenance requirements and other benefits.
• Urban areas are home to 55% of the global populationand contribute to 70% of the global warming and 80% of the loss of natural habitat. Additionally, about 60% of the global croplands are in the proximity of urban areas.

Rising Requirement of Iron and Coal

The rapid economic expansion in developing countries is both a result as well as a cause of the increase in the demand for iron and coal, as these commodities are essential to urbanization and industrialization.

• Australia, Brazil, and Canada are the biggest iron ore exporters, while China, Japan, and South Korea are the biggest iron ore importers.
• The use of RTG cranes has substantially increased for the transportation of these materials due to their large stacking capability, which allows them to maximize their terminal spaces.
• China imported approximately 1.1 billion metric tons of iron ore in 2022, and handling this much is not an easy task. Conventional diesel RTG cranes are being phased out of these operations as they burn up to 10 U.S. gallons of fuel per hour. Hence, terminals that deal with these two bulk commodities were among the first to deploy hybrid and E-RTG cranes.
• Further, the RTG crane market is projected to grow because these machines can be used in areas where conventional cranes cannot, all driven by the increasing trade activities in and out of developing nations.

Significant Investments in Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes

Since RTG cranes are expensive, substantial investments are required to procure as well as advance them.

• RTG cranes are versatile and easily maneuverable, which makes them popular for loading and unloading containers at the port.
• These vehicles are equipped with remote control systems and automated steering, which increases their initial cost. They are also equipped with rubber tires, which is another reason for their high initial price. Pneumatic tires have higher durability and versatility compared to rubberized tires that are used on quay surfaces.
• To match the market requirements and government guidelines regarding the reduction of the carbon footprints, E-RTG cranes are being developed to replace traditional diesel-powered ones. Electric variants also help in the reduction of operating expenses, along with environmental damage, but they need a higher initial investment.
• These machines are designed to be easily controlled in tight spaces and offer efficient stacking. Using them at shipyards, ports, and stockyards can result in reduced the operating costs and higher efficiency, which can overcome their high initial price in the long run.

Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane Industry Outlook

Type Insights

• The 16-wheeler category generated 70% of the revenue in 2024 and dominated the market. The significant growth of the 16-wheeler market is because of its low maintenance cost incurred due to cheap spare parts.
• The increasing number of large manufacturing units, along with a rise in trading and shipping activities drive the market, as large facilities generally use cranes with 16 wheels.
• These machines provide enhanced driver safety and maneuverability.
• The 8-wheeler category is expected to witness the higher CAGR over the forecast period. This is because of their simpler design and versatility for different industries and areas. These alternatives have the capability to work in tight spaces more efficiently.

During the study, we have analyzed two RTG crane types in the report:

• 16-Wheeler (Larger Category)
• 8-Wheeler (Faster-Growing Category)

Power Supply Insights

• The E-RTG category is the larger and fastest-growing. E-RTG cranes are trending, with the increasing prices of diesel fuel and the rising stringency of emission regulations.
• The electrification of these diesel machines greatly impacts the cost of operations. For example, a conventional model consumes 18 liters of fuel an hour and operates for 3,000 hours per year. Considering the price of diesel EUR 1.25 per liter, crane operations could cost up to EUR 67,000 per unit per year. After electrification, up to USD 66,000 (EUR 61,000) can be saved on operations per RTG crane per year.

During the study, we have analyzed three types of power supply in RTG crane in the report:

• Diesel
• Electric (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Hybrid

Application Analysis

• The shipbuilding and container ports category held the largest market share, of 40%, in 2024, due to the large investments in maritime trade by countries. They are especially adapted to shipping containers, the volume of which continues to grow around the world as more ports open and more merchant shipping lines are founded.
• Containers that cannot be lifted and moved by traditional cranes, and if these machines are able to, they are not as efficient as RTG cranes.
• RTG cranes can carry loads up to 50 tons and move efficiently. They are equipped with special equipment, such as a spreader, to handle containers more efficiently.
• The construction category is projected to witness the highest CAGR, of 6.2%, during 2024–2030 in the market. This is because of the rise in the degree of urbanization and industrialization in developing nations, thus propelling the need for raw materials in bulk.

Below are the major applications in which RTG cranes play an important role:

• Construction (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Oil & Gas
• Shipbuilding and Container Ports (Largest Category)
• Power & Utilities
• Others

Regional Insights

• Geographically, APAC dominated the RTG crane market, with a revenue share of 45%, in 2024. The growing volume of maritime trade in and out of China and India primarily drives the market.
• The need for advancing the infrastructure creates a massive demand for raw materials, for which regional countries’ governments are working to make their ports capable of handling more container and bulk cargo traffic than ever. They are looking for new technologies, such as RTG cranes, to increase operational efficiency.
• One major hurdle in their large-scale deployment has been their high carbon emissions in recent times. To overcome the challenge, many countries are shifting to E-RTG cranes.
• The dominance of APAC on the market is essentially ascribed to their swelling population, for which infrastructure needs to be enhanced on a huge scale.
• Europe will witness the fastest growth, of 6.0%, between 2024 and 2030, primarily due to the increasing deployment of electric models.
• Europe has some of the most-difficult policies related to the environment. Hence, regional material handling entities will adopt E-RTG cranes in large numbers to reduce pollution. Furthermore, port authorities have increased the budget for the advancement of the port infrastructure.

The regions and countries analyzed in this report include:

• North America
  • U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market
  • Canada
• Europe (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • Germany (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Largest Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • Japan
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of APAC 
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • South Africa (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • U.A.E.
  • Rest of MEA

Rubber-Tired Gantry Crane Market Share

The market has a high degree of fragmentation owing to the existence of many domestic and international players. The ongoing research and development programs of companies on RTG cranes have increased the difficulties for each other, forcing everyone to work further to match the market needs.

RTG Cranes Industry News

• In September 2023, DP World Global a global port operator, elected TYCROP and Loop Energy were selected to provide hydrogen fuel cell-based population technology for the RTG cranes being used as the Port of Vancouver.
• In June 2023, MI-Jack demonstrated the semi-autonomous operation of its Travelift RTG crane for steel and concrete handling. The capability of controlling multiple machines without a human operator, combined with an auto spreader, makes operations safe and efficient.
• In July 2022 KALMAR, which is a part of Cargotec, launched a new generation of RTG cranes equipped with the anti-sway technology, improved cabin, and crane management system (CMS).