Report: access in South America - a sustainable growth?

The South American powered access platform market expanded rapidly between 2020 and 2023, increasing in size from 1,764 units sold in 2020 to 6,517 units in 2023. This growth was widespread across the region, with the five major markets of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru expanding at different rates. The drivers of this growth included the post-pandemic rebound of construction and maintenance activity, the renewal of rental fleets, and the accelerated adoption of powered access lift equipment in industrial and logistics environments.

South America MEWP sales by product type. (Image: Off-Highway Research).

However, 2024 marked the first contraction of the period (-12%), with sales easing to 5,727 units. This decline is almost entirely explained by Brazil (-16%), whose slowdown outweighed the relatively stable or growing performance recorded in the remaining markets.

The majority of platforms sold in South America are relatively small, with more than 60% of sales accounted for by machines offering a working height of 13m or less. However, there is demand for large platforms of 20m or more in South America, particularly in the more developed markets.

Preferences in the region lean strongly towards scissor and articulated platforms, which together account for more than 95% sales. Although both segments expanded strongly between 2020 and 2023, they followed distinct trajectories in 2024.

Within this, scissor lifts are the most popular platform type, accounting for more than 60% of sales in the early 2020s, with articulated booms accounting for up to 35%, depending on the year.

Telescopic booms remain a niche product, but have seen good growth this decade, with sales rising from just 27 platforms in 2020 to close to 250 units by the middle of the decade.

The majority of the other platforms sold are vertical masts, with the occasional spider platform.

One of the drivers of growth has been the increasing availability of relatively low cost platforms from China. This saw Chinese-made equipment account for 63% of sales by 2024, followed by North America (25%) and Europe (12%) as the other sources.

Chinese manufacturers have pursued an exceptionally aggressive commercial strategy in the region. Beyond competitive pricing, several brands have introduced highly unconventional financing schemes, including payment deferrals of up to two years before any instalments are due.

Country of manufacture. (Image: Off-Highway Research).

Such conditions significantly lower entry barriers for rental companies and allow for rapid fleet expansion with limited short-term capital pressure.

This aggressive approach has not been without controversy. Several market participants have raised concerns regarding what they perceive as unfair competitive practices, including a lack of discipline in channel management, direct sales to end-users that bypass traditional distribution structures, minimal respect for price floors, and behaviours that some actors openly describe as dumping. These practices have placed significant pressure on traditional manufacturers and distributors, particularly those operating with higher cost structures and more rigid commercial frameworks.

Rental dominance

Off-highway Research found that more than 90% of platform sales in South America are to rental companies.

According to the most recent edition of the Access 50 ranking published, South America is home to several rental companies with sizeable and increasingly sophisticated powered access fleets. The Brazilian company Mills ranks 23rd globally with a fleet exceeding 10,400 aerial work platforms, making it one of the largest powered access rental operators outside North America and Europe. Another Brazilian rental company, Locar Guindastes e Transportes Intermodais, appears in position 60 with a fleet of approximately 2,400 units, while Chile-based Alo Group ranks 64th with more than 2,030 powered access platforms.

The powered access platform population across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru is estimated at approximately 48,500 units, with a structure heavily concentrated in scissor lifts and articulated platforms. Together, these two categories accounted for 94% of the installed base.

Scissor lifts dominated the population with 26,500 units, representing 55% of the total fleet while articulated platforms followed with 19,000 units and a 39% share.

All other categories remained marginal in comparison. Telescopic platforms accounted for 1,500 units, or 3% of the total population, vertical mast lifts represented a similar share, with 1,400 units, and spider lifts remained a very small niche, with an estimated population of around 100 units across the entire region.

Market outlook

Between 2025 and 2029, sales of powered access equipment in South America are forecast to grow steadily, rising from 6,205 units in 2025 to 7,350 units in 2029. According to Off-Highway Research, this trajectory reflects a market that has already absorbed the post-pandemic expansion phase and is now entering a more sustainable growth cycle, driven primarily by fleet renewal, gradual rental fleet expansion and the continued professionalisation of work-at-height practices across the region.

South America MEWP sales by country. (Image: Off-Highway Research).

Brazil will remain by far the largest market, accounting for roughly 65% of regional demand throughout the forecast period. Sales are expected to increase from 4,550 units in 2025 to 5,200 units in 2029, supported by ongoing investments in logistics, industry, ports and energy projects. Growth in Brazil will be moderate rather than explosive, reflecting the maturity of its rental sector and the normalisation following the exceptional expansion seen in earlier years.

Argentina and Chile are forecast to follow relatively similar patterns, characterised by moderate and somewhat irregular growth. Colombia and Peru will remain the fastest-growing markets in percentage terms, albeit from much smaller bases.

From a product perspective, scissor lifts and articulated platforms are expected to remain the backbone of the South American powered access market throughout the forecast period.

Telescopic platforms are also expected to retain their strategic importance, particularly in large-scale projects such as ports, energy installations, mining operations and heavy industry. While their share of total units will remain limited, they will continue to represent a critical category for higher-reach and more technically demanding applications, especially in Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Vertical mast lifts, by contrast, are expected to gradually lose relevance over the forecast period. As rental fleets mature and customers increasingly favour more versatile equipment, vertical platforms are likely to be partially displaced by compact scissor lifts and small articulated machines that offer greater flexibility at comparable price points.

Spider lifts are forecast to gain slightly more visibility, particularly in niche applications such as mining, confined spaces and uneven terrain. However, despite this incremental growth, spider platforms will remain a niche segment, with limited impact on total market volumes and concentrated among specialised rental providers.