ARA projects single digit growth in coming years
The equipment rental industry is expected to see single-digit increases over the next four years according to the latest American Rental Association (ARA) forecast.
The forecast calls for equipment rental revenue — which includes the construction and industrial as well as the general tool segments — to increase by 3.4% in 2023 to nearly $57.7 billion after growth of 11% in 2022 to reach almost $55.8 billion.
In subsequent years, equipment rental revenue is expected to grow 2.9% in 2024, 3.3% in 2025, and another 3.4% in 2026 to reach nearly $63.4 billion.
“In the current forecast we see a definite softening in rental revenue growth, but we do not see negative growth,” says John McClelland, ARA vice president for government affairs and chief economist.
The construction and industrial segment, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the forecasting firm that compiles data for the ARA forecast and the ARA Rentalytics subscription service, showed double-digit revenue increases in 2021 and 2022 at 10.2% and 12.7% respectively.
The segment is forecast to show a 4%increase in 2023, 2% in 2024, and 3% in 2025 and 2026.
On the general tool side, revenue growth was a more moderate 4.5% in 2021 and 6.2% in 2022 and is forecast to be 1% in 2023 and then 5% in 2024 and 2025 and 4%in 2026.
“There is variability in the forecast, depending on the end markets rental companies serve. However, nonresidential construction spending will be strong, and money continues to be spent from government stimulus programs, which both are positives for the rental industry,” says Tom Doyle, ARA vice president, association program development.
“In addition, the supply chain is improving, which can help alleviate the backlog of equipment orders, allowing equipment rental companies to expand inventory to meet demand, which adds to the positive outlook for the industry in 2023 and beyond,” Doyle added.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, investment in construction and industrial equipment now is expected to decline slightly in 2023 after growth of 55.1% in 2021 and 40% in 2022. Investment growth is forecast to be 4.8% in 2024 and 6.4% in 2025.
In Canada, equipment rental revenue also showed a post-pandemic boost of 15.8% and 11.1% in 2022 to reach $4.6 billion. The same as in the U.S., revenue growth is expected to settle into a single-digit pattern over the next four years.
The ARA forecast calls for equipment rental revenue in Canada to increase by 1.6% percent in 2023, 4% in 2024, 5.3% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026 to reach nearly $5.3 billion.
The American Rental Association,based in Moline, Ill., is an international trade association for owners of equipment and event rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment.
ARA members include more than 11,500 rental businesses and more than 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers in the United States and 44 countries worldwide.