French rental fell 6.7% in Q3, says DLR

The French rental industry shrank by 6.7% in the third quarter year-on-year, according to the latest Barometer member survey by rental and distributor association DLR.

The association, which has more than 1000 members in France, reported that the third quarter also saw a 12.1% decline compared to the second quarter of this year.

Rental companies, said DLR, reported a difficult period hampered by a “still weak construction sector”, with price competition increasing.

The results of the Q3 2025 Barometer survey by DLR. ‘Location’ is rental, and ‘Manutention’ is material handling.

The survey also reported a 7.3% decline in sales of construction equipment for the quarter, with new machine sales 11.6% lower year-on-year, although the decline is moderating, said DLR, after an 18.1% fall in Q2.

The material handling sector – forklifts and agricultural equipment – is also seeing a challenging market, with activity down by 11.4% year-on-year.

DLR said the performance in the final quarter of the year will depend on the monetary environment, including interest rates, and a stabilising of the political situation.

“The stabilisation of the political scene, cited by all stakeholders as a major obstacle, will be decisive in making projects on hold a reality”, said DLR, “particularly in the construction industry, the restart of which is essential to the equipment value chain.

“If the signs of recovery in new construction are confirmed and demand related to renovation, logistics and decarbonisation intensify, a shift to a more normal market could take shape.”

It added that its members are dealing with hesitant demand, increased international competition and margins under pressure.