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UK machinery market stays strong in 2022 with Euro Auctions Leeds having its best year ever.

2022 was a strong year for the used machinery market with prices resilient, demand high for good fresh low hours machines, with a shortage of new equipment from OEMs for the duration of 2022.  

At the very last Euro Auctions sale of the year, the flagship sale site in Leeds, put just over £35 million of used construction machinery and agricultural equipment over the ramp in four days, including over 700 diggers of all makes and models. With market confidence in the UK still high with the Leeds yard stacked to the rafters, over 4,500 lots went under the hammer at the last sale of the year.

2022 was not without its challenges with access to stock being the major issue. However, the  team at Euro Auctions excelled themselves consistently pulling into the Leeds sales between 4,500 and 5,500 lots of heavy earth moving, construction and agricultural machinery at each sale. With a reputation for sourcing good, fresh, late, low hours machines on a regular basis in addition to consignments of new and unregistered equipment, the Euro Auctions team continued to ‘dig deep’ and delivered, sale on sale.

Internet bidding continued to be strong at all Euro Auctions sales in 2022, a hangover in trading style from Covid, with 69% of bids conducted online. However, in mid-2022 the crowds returned to the live sales and at the final Leeds sale of the year numbers of live bidders were approaching pre-Covid numbers and when compared with the same sale in October 2021, there was a 20% uplift. 2022 was a stellar year for Leeds with the highest yearly hammer total to date at the years end with over £329, million and the highest number of items sold in one year, at one site, with 40,000+ lots going under the hammer.     

Excavators in High Demand – Leeds is now the DIGGER capital of the UK

The demand for excavators in the UK has been unprecedented during the last 12 months, with the industry dubbing Euro Auctions, Leeds, as the ‘digger capital’ of the World’. Throughout 2022, at the Euro Auctions sale in Leeds anywhere from 700 and 1,000 variations of makes, models years, hours and types of excavators have gone over the ramp at each sale, a statistic unmatched anywhere globally.  Due to the quality of the equipment offered and the exchange rates movements throughout the year, Leeds has seen increased levels of international buyers participating and using Leeds to pick up equipment for export. Euro Auctions sellers have also been taking advantage of this and have been consigning to Euro Auctions sales in the US, branded as Yoder & Frey, in particular the upcoming multi day Winter auction in Florida in February.

UK Trends

Top buying regions and countries have been Europe, with the Middle East being consistently the second region by volume. The UK and the Republic of Ireland being top buying countries with The Netherlands and Poland constantly appearing in the top five.

A new emerging buyer in the last quarter of the year, previously not seen at the Euro Auctions sale in Leeds is the Ukraine. Registering online and  buying utility earth moving equipment and smaller excavators, generators and telehandlers, One can assume that equipment is destined for clean-up in this war-ravaged region of Europe. Increased levels of buyers from Ukraine bought in Leeds in October and the November / December sale, as well as the recent Dormagen sale where Ukrainian buyers were the 9th top bidding nation.

Collective Yearly Hammer Totals & Growth

Year                 Hammer                      Growth            # Lots              Online                        

2019                £274,151,970              + 14%              35,787             46%

2022                £294,244,909              + 7 %               40,171             75%

2021                £264,458,809              – 10%               36,286             72%

2022                £329,115,247              + 24%              40,772             67%

Chris Osborne, Sales Manager at Euro Auctions comments on the recent 20220 sales.

“During the last 12 months Euro Auctions put on eight record breaking sales at the Leeds site and no sooner one sale ends, the yard is filling up for the next auction. The ability for Euro Auctions to fill the Leeds yard with 5,500 + machines, 8-times a year, is a testimony to the ability of the global sales managers to consign good equipment for this sale. With sales managers in the UK, Spain, Germany, Middle East as well as the USA and Australia, Euro Auction is able to direct consignment into, not just Leeds, but to wherever demand is strongest”.

“Prices have been strong, helped by the weaker pound and we have seen bidders from Europe and the USA bidding more aggressively. At the last two sales of 2022, 45% of bidders were from the UK, showing an increase in global bidders.  Bidder registration from the USA jumped by 700% since October and I personally have seen those bidders buying multiple lots as they sit on the ramp, buying not one of five CAT or Hitachi diggers, but all five, which shows the appetite for the stock we are selling. In addition, at all sales we are hearing auctioneers repeatedly referencing online bidders in Texas, Florida and other states, which again, is fast becoming the chant of the auctioneer on sales day”.

“Successful bidders from the USA have been growing sale on sale, and in October, approximately £2 million of the £43 million hammer went to bidders from America., Registered buyers from the USA are always evident, bidding in the early stages of the sale, so distance is clearly no barrier. You can get a stripped-down Cat 320D Excavator or a couple of telehandlers into a 40’ shipping container and for a few thousand pounds it can be shipped anywhere in the world. However, a trend we saw throughout the year was local buyers bidding more aggressively and winning!” 

“Another noticeable trend at the last few sales, the crowds are back! Whilst a lot of bidding takes place online, bidders are browsing in person and this last sale the number of floor bidders were back to pre-Covid numbers and not just from the UK. We are seeing registrations from across Europe turn up in person”.

What is selling well? Everything sells at Euro Auctions as the crowd sets the pace for the sale as all sales are unreserved. In the last three months, making good money have been the mid-range machinery such as 6t excavators, backhoes, telehandlers and wheeled loaders”.

Here are my Top-Picks for recent sales in late 2022

Volvo EC380EL 700mm Pads                                  20TonExc         2017    89000

Hitachi ZX300LC-7 700 mm Tracks                       20TonExc         2021    145000

Hitachi ZX135USBL-7 700mm Rubber Block Pads       10TonExc         2021    87500

CAT 313FLGC 700mm Pads                                   10TonExc         2018    53000

Kobelco SK140SRLC-5 700mm Pads                       10TonExc         2019    62000

Kubota KX080-4A2 Rubber Tracks, Blade                               6TonExc           2020    54000

Kubota U56-5 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset                          Miniexc           2020    40500

Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset                          Miniexc           2019    30000

Kubota U48-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset                          Miniexc           2019    27000

Kubota KX027-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset                       Miniexc           2021    25750

CAT 730 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck                                      Artdump          2019    172000

Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck                                 Artdump          2016    137000

Bell B20E 6×6 LGP Articulated Dumptruck                             Artdump          2017    84000

Hydrema 912F 4×4 Articulated Dumptruck                            Artdump          2018    50000

Hidromek HMK 102B Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader       Backhoe          2016    38500

Scania S580 V8 6×2, Fassi F820 Crane                                   TracUnit          2019   215000

DAF CF450 8×4 Tipper Lorry, Steel Body                                TipperTr          2021    78000

Top 10 Brands – Stock Categories Over the Ramp

To gain an overview of the most popular equipment brands of 2022, these are the numbers of makes going over the ramp at Euro Auctions, 2022 in the following categories:

  • Telehandlers
  • All Terrain Dump Trucks
  • Backhoe Loaders
  • Skidsteer Loaders
  • Wheeled Loaders
  • Mini Excavators
  • 6t Excavators
  • 10t Excavators
  • 20t Excavators

What was hot and what was selling well in late 2022

Mini-Excavators

2020 Bobcat E50 EM Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                 30,000

2020 Kubota U56-5 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                   40,500

2019 Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped (1,770 Hours)      28,000

2019 Komatsu PC55MR-5 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                          33,500

2019 Komatsu PC55MR-5M0 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                 33,500

2017 Komatsu PC55MR-3 400mm Rubber Block Pads, Blade, Offset,                     22,000

2017 Hitachi ZX55U-5A CLR Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                      27,000

2014 Kubota KX057-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                               23,000

2015 Takeuchi TB235 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                21,000

2014 Hitachi ZX29U-3 CLR Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                        16,000

2014 New Holland E29B SR Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                       14,000

2012 Doosan DX27Z Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped                                  13,000

2016 Bobcat E19 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Expanding Undercarriage       12,000

2014 Kubota KX019-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, 12,000

2014 Takeuchi TB219 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                 9,500

6T Excavators                                                                                                            

2021 Wacker Neuson EZ80 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, Reverse Camera, A/C    56,000

2020 Doosan DX85R-3 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, Piped, Aux. Piping, A/C         43,500

2021 Kubota KX080-4A2 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, Reverse Camera, A/C         54,000

2020 Kubota KX080-4A2 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, Reverse Camera, A/C         54,000

2019 Kubota KX080-4A 450mm Pads, Blade, Offset, A/C                                        38,000

2017 Kubota KX080-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, A/C                                         34,000

2016 Kubota KX080-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset                                                30,000

2015 Kubota KX080-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, A/C                                         28,500

2014 Kubota KX080-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped, Aux. Piping     28,500

2017 Volvo ECR88D Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped, A/C                    36,000

2018 CAT 308E2CR 450mm Rubber Block Pads, Blade, Offset, Reverse Camera    38,000

2014 Hitachi ZX85USB-5A Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, A/C                                  23,000

2013 Hitachi ZX85USB-5A 450mm Rubber Block Pads, Blade, Offset, A/C              22,500

2015 Yanmar VIO80-1A Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped, A/C              29,000

2015 Volvo ECR88D Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped A/C                     29,500

2015 Takeuchi TB260 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, A/C                                          27,000

10 T Excavators

2018 Volvo EC180EL 700mm Pads, Reverse & Blind Spot Camera, A/C                   49,500

2019 Doosan DX160LC-5 High Track, 800mm Pads, Reverse Camera, A/C               34,500

2017 Doosan DX160LC-5 High Track, 700mm Pads, Reverse Camera, A/C               37,000

2021 Doosan DX140LC-5 700mm Pads, Reverse Camera, A/C                                  63,000

2019 Hitachi ZX130LCN-6 700mm Pads, VG, CV, QH, Piped, 3 Way Camera, A/C   54,000

2017 Hitachi ZX130LCN-6 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Reverse Camera, A/C        36,500

2020 Komatsu PC138US-11 700mm Pads, Piped, 3 Way Camera, A/C ( 2849 hrs ) 54,000

2018 CAT 313FLGC 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Reverse & Blind Spot, A/C          53,000

2019 Kobelco SK140SRLC-5 700mm Pads, Reverse & Blind Spot Camera, A/C        61,000

3971 – 2018 Kobelco SK140SRLC-5 700mm Pads, Reverse & Blind Spot Camera    53,000

20 T Excavators

2012 CAT 349E 600mm Pads, Demo Cage, Reverse Camera, A/C, Auto Lube          68,000

2007 Doosan DX420LC 600mm Pads, Piped, Reverse Camera, A/C, 1 Bucket          35,000

2018 Komatsu PC360LC-11 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, 360 Camera, A/C             74,000

2014 Komatsu PC360LC-10 800mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Reverse Camera, A/C     45,000

2017 Volvo EC380EL 700mm Pads, QH, Piped, Reverse & Blind Spot Camera, A/C 89,000

2014 Volvo EC380EL 800mm Pads, Blind Spot & Reverse Camera, A/C                   53,000

2014 Volvo EC380DL 600mm Pads, A/C                                                                 41,000

2014 CAT 336EL 700mm Pads, Demo Cage, Autolube, Reverse Camera, A/C          55,000

2012 CAT 336EL 700mm Pads, Piped, Aux. Piping, Reverse Camera, A/C                50,000

2016 JCB JS370LC 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Aux. Piping, Reverse Camera, A/C         48,000

2010 Hitachi ZX350LC-3 800mm Pads, Piped, Aux. Piping, Reverse Camera, A/C    39,500

2018 CAT 320  700mm Pads, Aux. Piping, 360 Camera, A/C (EPA Approved)          83,000

2016 Kobelco SK210LC-10 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Aux. Piping, A/C                37,000

2016 Doosan DX255LC-5 600mm Pads, Piped, Aux. Piping, Reverse Camera, A/C   40,000

2016 Komatsu PC210LC-10 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Reverse Camera, A/C     42,000

2016 Kobelco SK210LC-10 700mm Pads, CV, QH, Piped, Aux. Piping, A/C                37,000

Backhoe Loaders

2018 JCB 3CX P21 ECO Turbo Powershift Sitemaster Backhoe Loader, A/C                      37,000

2013 JCB 3CX P21 ECO Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, QH, Piped, SRS              30,500

2016 Hidromek HMK 102B Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, Piped, SRS, A/C      38,500

2016 Hidromek HMK 102B Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, SRS, A/C                 37,000

2011 CAT 432E Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, 4 in 1 Bucket, Forks                  35,000

2008 New Holland B110B-4PT Turbo Backhoe Loader,                                             23,000

Dozers

2018 Komatsu D65PX-18 Straight Blade & Tilt, Reverse Camera, A/C                     85,000

2017 Komatsu D65PX-18 Straight Blade & Tilt, Reverse Camera, A/C                     77,000

2015 CAT D6T LGP Straight Blade & Tilt, Reverse Camera, A/C                               90,000

2014 CAT D6T LGP Straight Blade & Tilt, Multi Tyne Ripper, Reverse Camera, A/C           78,000

2014 Komatsu D61PXI-23 6 Way Pat Blade, GPS, Reverse Camera, A/C                  79,000

2008 CAT D6N LGP 6 Way Pat Blade, Reverse Camera, A/C                                     33,000

2010 Komatsu D51PX-22 6 Way Pat Blade, A/C                                                        36,500

Articulated Dumptrucks

2021 Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Heated Body, A/C                             233,000

2019 Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Tail Gate, Reverse Camera, A/C,     170,000

2019 CAT 730 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Tail Gate, Reverse Camera, A/C                      172,000

2016 Bell B40D 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Tail Gate, Reverse Camera, A/C         64,000

2016 Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                       137,000

2016 Volvo A25G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                       98,000

2014 Hydrema 922D 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                  60,000

2007 Volvo A25E 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                        40,000

2018 Hydrema 912F 4×4 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                  50,000

2007 Volvo A25D 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Reverse Camera, A/C                       31,500

Wheeled Loaders

2020 Doosan DL420 Wheeled Loader, Reverse Camera, A/C                                    92,000

2018 Doosan DL450-5 Wheeled Loader, Auto Lube, Reverse Camera, A/C              60,000

2015 CAT 962M Wheeled Loader, Auto Lube, QH, Reverse Camera, WLI, A/C        60,000

2017 Volvo L150H Wheeled Loader, Stick Steering CDC System                               86,000

2019 Hyundai HL960XT Wheeled Loader, Reverse Camera, A/C                               49,000

2014 Case 1021F Wheeled Loader, Auto Lube, Reverse Camera, WLI, A/C             27,000

2015 Case 721F Wheeled Loader, QH, WLI, Reverse Camera, A/C                           20,000

2008 Volvo L110F Wheeled Loader, QH, Auto Lube, Reverse Camera, WLI, A/C,    35,000

Wheeled Excavators

2020 Bobcat E50 EM Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped                                 30,000

2020 Kubota U56-5 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, Piping, A/C (EPA Marked)          40,500

2019 Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped (1,770 Hours)      28,000

2019 Komatsu PC55MR-5M0 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped             33,500

2017 Komatsu PC55MR-3 400mm Rubber Block Pads, Blade, Offset, CV, Piped     22,000

2017 Hitachi ZX55U-5A CLR Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped, A/C       27,000

2017 Yanmar VIO50-6A Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV,  Hydraulic QH, Piped     25,000

2017 Takeuchi TB250 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped                         23,000

2016 Volvo EC55C Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped, Aux. Piping, A/C   19,000

2047 – 2015 JCB 8055RTS Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped                   18,000

2014 Kubota KX057-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, CV, QH, Piped                         23,000

2015 Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset,                                                   21,000

2059 – 2014 Bobcat E50 EM Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped, A/C             20,000

2060 – 2010 Volvo EC55C Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped, A/C                  15,000

2061 –  Hyundai R55-7 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped                              10,500

2062 –  Airman AX50-3 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped                             9,500

2063 – 2020 Bobcat E45 Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, QH, Piped                            26,500

What to Look for in 2023 – Register for upcoming Euro Auction & Yoder & Frey Sales

Maguire Agri Contracts          Trillick N’ Ireland21st January

Euro Auctions                          Leeds                           UK                   25-28 January

Euro Auctions                          Dormagen                   Germany         1-2 February              

Yoder & Frey                           Florida                         USA                 15-18 February

Euro Auctions                          BrisbaneAustralia         25 February    

Euro Auctions                          Dromore                      UK                   24-25 February

Yoder & Frey                           Florida                         USA                 9 March

Euro Auctions                          Zaragoza             Spain               21 March        

Full details for consignors and bidder catalogues for all sales are available on the Euro Auctions website at www.euroauctions.com email info@euroauctions.com or on +44 (0) 2882 898262.