Motor Grader Market

Market Overview

The global motor graders market size was valued at USD 5,237.02 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 7,640.91 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The growing applications in industries including mining, road, and construction stimulate market growth.

A motor grader is a component of heavy construction equipment for grading the earth's surface. It could be beneficial for grading or leveling construction sites, oil and gas sites, mining activities, and leveling infrastructure surfaces. Likewise, it is utilized for ground surface care, such as cleaning and removing dust, snow, and other debris. The grader, commonly referred to as a motor grader or road grader, is a robust piece of machinery equipped with an elongated blade that finds application across diverse industries. Graders are typically used to create smooth and flat surfaces in civil construction, road building, and mining operations.

Market Dynamics

Global Motor Graders Market Driver:

Growing Applications in Industries including Mining, Road, and Construction

Motor graders are used in the road building business to build dirt and gravel roads and a strong flat base for bigger paved roads. These tough machines are employed while constructing paved roads to create a base surface on which the road surface is placed. The utilization of a motor grader for the construction and upkeep of haul roads ensures the attainment of level and even road surfaces, proper drainage, and the absence of debris, standing water, road deterioration, depressions, and grooves. Quality roads make working easy even under unpredictable weather like rain and storms.

Additionally, the construction industry in the US accounts for over USD 1.6 trillion every year, one of the largest contributors to the US economy. In recent years, the construction industry has been witnessing heavy demand, so the motor graders market is expanding across the US. The government's focus on road building has notably contributed to the market growth. In Europe, too, France has the largest road construction industry, driving the demand for motor graders as they are much beneficial in constructing roads.

Global Motor Graders Market Restraint:

Rising Carbon Emissions and Fuel Price Fluctuation

The motor grader is a type of heavy construction equipment that operates using diesel fuel, known for having the highest carbon emissions compared to other fuel sources. It was noted that a motor grader exhibits a CO2 emission rate of 3142.2 grams per kilogram of fuel and emits 16.6 grams of CO, 10.1 grams of HC, and 48.4 grams of NOx per kilogram of fuel during its work. These emission levels were found to be significantly higher compared to those of other heavy vehicles.

Additionally, fluctuations in oil prices have a direct influence on the pricing of diesel fuel. Consequently, the significantly elevated levels of carbon emissions and the volatility in prices profoundly impact the motor graders market. In light of global efforts to mitigate carbon emissions and foster sustainability, the market growth of motor graders is being impeded by their significant carbon emissions.

Global Motor Graders Market Opportunities:

Rapid Development in Technology

The advancement of technology is readily apparent in motor graders, as numerous manufacturers have introduced graders that incorporate cutting-edge features like fully integrated, massless, 3D grade control systems. Technological advancements in motor graders have played a key role in enhancing the operational capabilities of graders, leading to improved levels of precision, effectiveness, and output. The recently developed motor graders exhibit a low maintenance requirement, thereby rendering them economically advantageous after the initial purchase.

Expanding Infrastructure

The market's growth can be attributed to infrastructure development in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, which has generated market expansion opportunities. Developing countries in Asia, such as India, China, and others, have allocated over USD 800 billion towards infrastructure development. The region has experienced substantial industrial growth, leading to an anticipated increase in demand for motor graders. This is primarily due to the region's governments prioritizing infrastructure development.

China, an emerging economic powerhouse in Asia, has allocated a staggering sum of over USD 1 trillion towards the development of infrastructure as a means to stimulate economic growth. The nation has placed considerable emphasis on the development of roads and other infrastructure, leading to a notable increase in demand for motor graders.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the global motor graders market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global motor graders market shareholder and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The rising infrastructure development has been a primary factor attributed to the market's growth. The developing economies in the region are focusing on infrastructure development to strengthen the development of all sectors. As a result of their emphasis on developing manufacturing facilities, nations like China, India, and South Korea have made significant investments in infrastructure development, including the building of roads and significant industrial hubs, to encourage industrial growth. The Government of India has also taken several big infrastructure developments, fuelling the demand for graders.

North America is expected to hold the second largest market share, following the Asia-Pacific. The United States, the most developed economy in the region, has been witnessing an extreme need for infrastructure expansion to boost the demand for the economy. In recent years, the government has been highlighting the issue of infrastructure expansion since the economy has come to a point where it needs the support of large infrastructure for expansion. Following the need, the government has taken several initiatives, including the Hudson Tunnel Project, Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel, and Rail improvements which are expected to boost connectivity.

In addition, Canada has been actively taking large infrastructure projects, including Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, Place du Portage III Renewal Project, Metrolinx's Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and more, to strengthen its economy. The rapidly growing infrastructure demand is expected to create demand for the motor graders market.

Europe has also been stressing on development of infrastructure development as it opens numerous ways of economic development. Germany and France are contributing heavily to connectivity projects, so the motor graders are employed in large amounts. Germany has focused on infrastructure development to maintain industrial growth because it has the largest economy in the region. which the nation has made significant investments in infrastructure projects.

In the Middle East and Africa, the demand for motor graders is primarily driven by the agriculture, mining, and construction industries. In the Middle East, various development projects have been taken by the government of countries with the objective of economic expansion through the development of basic infrastructure. In addition, the motor graders are largely employed for mining operations in the region as the region is abundant with minerals. The African region has been associated with the application of motor graders in agriculture, and various governments in the region have been focused on increasing food production, due to which the graders are largely employed in agricultural operations. 

In Latin America, the Motor Graders Market has been witnessing steady growth. Countries including Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina are contributing to the market growth in the region. The large infrastructure projects in Mexico and Brazil are associated with the region's demand for motor graders. In addition, there is a notable increase in infrastructure development observed in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. As a result, the region's demand for graders has significantly increased.

Segmental Analysis

The global motor graders market is bifurcated into product, capacity, and application.

Based on the product, the global motor graders market is divided into rigid frames and articulated frames.

The articulated frame segment is the highest contributor to the market share and is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Articulated frame graders are extensively favored due to their versatile application on various land surfaces. The benefits, such as higher accuracy and flexibility offered by the graders, are the primary factors associated with the application in construction activities.

Based on the capacity, the global motor graders market is divided into small (80-150 HP), medium (150-300 HP), and large (Above 300 HP).

The medium (150-300 HP) segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. Various properties associated with the medium motor grader, including high accuracy and large blades, offer benefits over other types of graders. Due to their benefits, the medium motor graders are employed in highway and road construction.

Based on the application, the global motor graders market is divided into construction, mining, oil and gas, and others.

The construction segment dominates the global market and is expected to continue during the forecast period. The construction industry has experienced significant growth worldwide, which can be attributed to the increasing pace of urbanization. This trend has guided a higher demand for graders in construction projects. For instance, the construction sector is one of the largest economic contributors in the US. Graders are used for a variety of tasks, such as grading hard surfaces like unpaved roads to ensure smooth transportation.

Recent Developments

• November 2022- Millar Technology launched an electric motor grader for underground mining. The grader has been built by retrofitting an HBM-Novas 110-M low-profile grader with Miller’s IONIC drive system. 
• May 2022- Mahindra Construction Equipment launched RoadMaster G75 Smart Grader, developed exclusively for smaller contractors. The company stated that the grader is ideal for spreading and grading applications for rural, semi-rural and district roads, land development, internal housing, and commercial roads.