European used machinery market shifts in sellers’ favour as demand outpaces supply
Europe’s used equipment market is showing clear signs of tightening, with strong buyer demand and shrinking inventories creating favourable conditions for machinery owners considering selling during the second half of 2026.
According to the latest Q2 2026 Market Trends Report from Ritchie Bros., demand is exceeding available stock across several key sectors, including agriculture, construction, access equipment and transport.
One of the strongest indicators comes from the transport sector, where enquiries for used tractor units increased by 72% year-on-year while listings fell by 26%, creating a significant imbalance between supply and demand. Similar trends are emerging across agricultural machinery, with tractor listings on the Mascus marketplace declining by 19% compared with the same period last year. Despite tighter supply, median auction prices for tractors have remainedbroadly stable at just under €27,000, suggesting the market has stabilised after the corrections seen earlier in 2026.
The report also highlights continued demand for high-quality, well-maintained equipment. Across several machinery categories, buyers were prepared to pay stable or higher prices for newer, lower-hour machines, while even older access equipment recorded increasing values as supply tightened.
Ghislaine Duijmelings, International General Manager at Ritchie Bros., said the current market presents opportunities for businesses looking to dispose of surplus assets but warned that achieving the best results requires careful marketing and access to international buyers.
Regionally, Germany and Sweden continue to lead demand for agricultural machinery, while the UK remains one of Europe’s strongest secondary markets for crawler excavators. The Netherlands topped buyer enquiries across several equipment categories, and Romania entered the top five markets for used tractor units, reflecting growing demand across Central and Eastern Europe.
For agricultural machinery dealers and fleet operators, the findings suggest the balance of the used equipment market is continuing to favour sellers, particularly those offering well-presented machines with documented service histories. With inventory levels remaining constrained, demand for quality used equipment is expected to remain firm through the remainder of 2026.
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