Chinese rental firm overtakes United Rentals to top the ranking of the world’s largest MEWP fleets

For the first time, a Chinese rental giant has leapfrogged US giant United Rentals to top the Access50 ranking of the world’s largest MEWP (mobile elevated work platform) fleets.

China’s Horizon Construction Equipment has overtaken United Rentals to become the biggest aerial equipment owner globally — a milestone that marks a major shift in the industry.

Despite a real estate crash and a slowdown in China’s access sector, Horizon and rival Chinese firm Huatie, which climbed to third-place in the ranking this year, have both significantly expanded their fleets of access platforms.

Huatie grew its inventory by nearly 39% in the past year, securing more than half of all MEWPs sold in China.

Horizon has also invested aggressively, both at home and abroad, acquiring Malaysia-based TH Tong Heng Machinery and its 1,200-unit fleet.

Chinese growth

The achievement is even more striking given that before 2017 no Chinese rental company appeared in the listing at all and the change has taken place against a backdrop of a domestic construction downturn.

This is reflected by the marginal growth of other China-based rental companies in the list, when compared to their massive year-on-year increases in the past.

Overall, the Access50 shows that while some mature aerial markets are slowing, growth opportunities remain strong in many developing regions, and fleet investments continue to shape the competitive landscape worldwide.

Lower down the ranking, Malaysia’s Ban Ngai Rent (BNR) was a new entrant into the top list after years of steady investment, and Turkish rental companies also saw strong fleet expansion in 2024, supported by easy credit from competing manufacturers and distributors.

India’s aerial rental market is also gaining ground, fuelled by a growing economy and infrastructure boom. While international firms still dominate the country’s largest fleets, domestic players such as Mtandt have expanded significantly. Although India’s MEWP fleet is unlikely to match China’s rapid growth of recent years, there is a clear trend towards increased aerial rental, with many smaller firms yet to reach the listing’s 1,000-unit threshold.

Steady increase in US

In the US, meanwhile, formerly the world’s largest aerial fleet owners, United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, and Sunstate have all grown their aerial fleets steadily The growth is in line with the American Rental Association’s forecast of slower but ongoing rental market expansion.

Herc Rentals has jumped from ninth to sixth place with a dramatic 76.9% increase in its aerial fleet size this year following the company’s acquisition of H&E Rentals, a major US aerial fleet owner, earlier this year.

Europe’s aerial fleet growth has been mixed, reflecting wider economic challenges. Northern European companies have experienced limited growth or contraction, though some benefitted from purchasing Chinese-built MEWPs ahead of EU anti-dumping tariffs and from post-pandemic supply chain improvements. Southern Europe, by contrast, has been more buoyant, with Spain’s Manain Elevació joining the ranking for the first time.

To see the full Access50 list and analysis, see the July/August edition of Access International.