Snow Groomers Market

Market Overview

The global snow groomers market size was valued at USD 372.51 million in 2021 and is anticipated to reach an expected value of USD 468.96 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.5% over the forecast period (2022–2030).

A snow groomer is a huge truck used on ski slopes to smooth out the snow and prepare it for skiing. They are primarily used to construct and maintain smooth snowmobile routes, ski slopes, and cross-country ski trails by manipulating snow. Simply described, they are a sort of snowcat explicitly designed for snow removal. When the machine is in use, it moves, flattens, and packs the snow to enhance trail conditions. When regular snow groomers are unavailable, routes are frequently maintained by ATVs and tractors.

Market Dynamics

Driver: The Booming Tourist Industry to Increase the Demand for Snow Groomers

The rising tourist business may also encourage customers to participate in winter activities such as skiing. According to the World Bank Group, international visitor arrivals climbed from 1.24 billion in 2016 to 1.33 billion in 2017. Furthermore, the number of people participating in snow sports has risen as people become more aware of other kinds of skiing, such as Alpine skiing, ski touring, and cross-country skiing.

The global snow groomers market is predicted to grow due to the commercialization of the sport, along with the smooth and safe experience of the sport with varied ski equipment and gears. The infrastructure for snow sports, particularly skiing, is expanding worldwide as customer desire for snow-related activities and tourism grows. These beneficial trends in winter sports infrastructure development are projected to expand the scope of snow groomers in the near future.

Restraint: High Cost of the Equipment to Hinder the Growth of Snow Groomers Market

Snow grooming is another crucial activity in the running of a ski area. It significantly influences the overall quality of the ski conditions, fuel consumption, and initial investment because snow-grooming equipment is not remarkably inexpensive. An unnecessary initial investment in both cars and infrastructure is caused by an excessive number of vehicles (and excessively high-quality models), which may negatively influence profitability in the long run. The reduced life cycle of machines and their components due to poor maintenance methods might result in increased needless expenses, such as maintenance and further investments, resulting from the practices.

Opportunities: Rising Popularity of Winter Sports to Create Lucrative Opportunities for Snow Groomers

A successful Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing in 2022 might result in a significant rise in Chinese winter sports tourists, with experts stating that European ski resorts may need to adjust to meet new demands. The China Tourism Academy recently published a white paper highlighting the rapid rise of winter sports in China in recent years. At the same time, European resorts have already seen a significant boost in mainland visits. 

In the winter seasons of 2020-2021, China was predicted to draw 230 million visitors, with total revenue of RMB390 billion (£43 billion/USD 60 billion/€60 billion). Compared to 2014, the number of ski resorts in China increased by more than 67% in 2019, to 770, while the number of skiers increased by 13.95 million. Ski visitors in 2019 increased by 103% over the previous five years to 20.9 million.

Regional Analysis

The market is divided into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Significant Growth in Europe and North America

The two most important markets for snow groomers are Europe and North America. Europe has a large number of ski resorts, easily topping 1000. From little village lifts to massively interconnected resorts must be seen (and skied) to be believed. The Alps, which run from the Mediterranean coast of France through Switzerland, northern Italy, Austria, and southern Germany, and into Slovenia, are home to much of Europe's greatest skiing.

Since the mountains are massive, skiing in Europe provides limitless lines on huge verticals, and the stunning landscape may be seen from the slopes, a cozy lounge chair, or soaring cable cars. More than a third of the world's 2,084 ski resorts are located in the European Alps. Its ski season annually generates €28 billion in revenue, accounting for around one-third of the global total and over 7% of the total value of the EU's tourist sector.

Canada and the United States compete in many areas, from political ideals to borders to how to make bacon. However, one of the most contentious conflicts is between skiing in each nation. Both Canada and the United States have spectacular mountains and world-class snow, but the dispute over which area has the superior run continues.

The United States is unquestionably a larger market, with nearly twice as many ski locations as Canada. Except for Florida, southern California, and the south Mississippi basin, the temperature throughout the United States is frigid. The weather in the remainder of the United States is favorable for winter sports, attracting the inhabitants in this region to acquire appropriate clothing for these activities.

Segmental Analysis

The global snow groomers market is segmented by grooming drags, applications, models, and regions. 

The global market is divided into two types: multi-blade drags and single-blade drags. Regardless of the manufacturer or individual design specifics, multi-blade drags have become the current norm for most grooming groups that utilize drags. In fact, they are such a crucial element of the grooming toolbox that many people feel that a good multi-blade drag is the single most critical component of a successful trail grooming program.

The global market is divided into four applications: Alpine Ski Slope, Ski and Snowboard Park, Snowmobile Trail, and Cross-Country Ski Trail. This sector has the largest market share and is expected to maintain its dominance in the future years. Over 6,000 ski resorts and parks will be accessible worldwide by 2020. As a considerable number of skiers visit resorts and parks to enjoy winter sports and other associated activities, they have emerged as the leading end-users of snow groomers. In addition, the majority of parks and resorts organize sporting events, which draw more visitors to the area.

The market is divided into two categories based on the model type: new and used equipment. As previously said, high costs and limited application breadth, particularly during the pandemic period, have propelled the industry to a startling growth trend. As a result, resort owners and consumers are choosing hourly rental or secondhand equipment, providing a cost-effective scenario. A three-year-old off-lease model with 3,500 hours, for example, will cost a club around USD 275 K. If you utilize the equipment on a standard 4-day-a-week grooming schedule, you can anticipate it to use 750 engine hours, USD 6 K in basic maintenance, and 70 hours of labor each season.

Impact of covid-19

The significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases has had a severe impact on the sports and tourist industries. Lockdowns and travel restrictions forced the postponement of key winter sporting events in 2020. However, with the elimination of limitations and lockdowns in 2021, the snow groomers market is recovering at a rapid rate. The consequence of the 2019–20 season being cut short began in March when all Alpine countries began to close ski resorts in response to Italy's lockdown. 

By mid-March, Austria, France, and Switzerland had closed all of their ski resorts, and the rest of the season's vacations had been canceled. According to the research, 60% of winter sports enterprises, including tour operators and equipment dealers, have furloughed employees. In comparison, 17% of those polled had had to make redundancies.

Due to the heavy seasonal snowfall, the snow groomer market in the United States and Canada is likely to see higher demand from numerous locations in North America. These devices are expected to be in great demand for home use, such as clearing driveways, backyards, and porches. Increased consumer confidence and discretionary income have led to an increase in the use of snow groomers for household purposes. 

The small form and simplicity of technology have resulted in increased utilization, boosting the demand for snow groomers in recent years. Snow removal equipment in the residential segment in North America is likely to have substantial demand during the forecast period, owing to an increase in the Do-It-Yourself attitude among consumers.

Recent Developments

• October 2021 – Prinoth, a Canadian manufacturer of snow groomers, tracked vehicles, and vegetation management vehicles and equipment, announced the execution of an acquisition agreement to purchase 100% of the capital stock of Jarraff Industries Inc. This privately-owned American company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and commercializing high-quality, specialized right-of-way maintenance, land clearing, and tree care equipment.