At the first sale of 2022 the team at Euro Auctions, Leeds, amassed a truly impressive inventory of new to 48 month old machinery in addition to attracting one of the largest registrations of bidders.
At Europe’s largest auction site for used construction and agricultural machinery, market confidence was high at the recent Euro Auctions four-day sale in late January, at their Leeds ‘flag ship’ site. Providing buyers with no shortage of excellent quality equipment and machinery, during the four days over 4,600 lots went over the ramp, with a hammer total for the sale at just under £39 million.
The sale was well attended, with the largest physical crowd attending since pre Covid times, showing the optimism that exists in the marketplace. 30% of all successful bids were from buyers on the floor, on the day, with the remaining 70% of sales coming from internet bids from registrations in 97 countries. However, the hunger of the home markets was evident with 60% of all successful bids coming from the home shores of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and 96% of all successful bid coming from the UK and Europe alone. However, such is the demand for good clean and late machinery, the global audience always has interest in this sale, with world buyer registering to bid, but the home market was more determined, bidding harder and ensuring the majority of equipment stayed local.
In a market depleted of good new stock, buyers were eager to purchase good late, low hours equipment, and multiple compliments of new to 48 month old machines were evident and in high demand, creating a real buzz with bidders at this sale.
Approved bidder accounts at Euro Auctions sales continue to increase, with this sale being no exception. Over and above the sale in December 2021 the number of first-time bidder registrations increased by 20% with 25% of those first-timers buying at this sale, showing the Euro Auctions brand continues to attract new customers.
Top Buyers – by world region:
This was a home market sale, with UK and European buyers bidding hardest.
United Kingdom £18.89 million 48.00% of total
Europe £18.86 million 47.90% of total
Middle East £617,000 1.58% of total
South America £111,150 0.29% of total
Africa £256,410 0.66% of total
Rest of the World £212,301 1.57% of total
With Covid restrictions still in place, this sale was a physical auction, as well as being conducted live and ‘online’ via the roust bidding platform the Euro Auctions operates. This now popular format gives buyers the chance to view machines for sale and then bidding via the internet, with a Timed Auction taking place on the last day of the sale.
Market Trends
Chris Osborne, Euro Auctions Sales Manager comments, “There is always a pattern to every Euro Auctions sale. This sale was very different to any of the Covid sales we have conducted in the last 18 months for a number of reasons. Prices were strong, with the same number of lots going over the ramp as in January 2021, however at this sale the hammer was £39m, an increase of over £10m over the January sale in 2021. Clearly bidders were determined to purchase new stock.”
“The prices achieved for ‘telehandlers’ and ‘mini-diggers’ were literally on-fire, with 17 and 18 plate machines making close to new money. With good stock on offer in the 2018 to 2021 bracket there were over 123 Excavators and 22 Telehandlers less than four years old. With OEMs passing three price increases to their dealers over the last 18 months this has had a startling effect on the price of used machinery. There were many gems making very good money, with hot bidding for telehandlers and mini diggers. Of all the equipment sold, here are my considered ‘top picks’ of a few of the best performing lots in the sale” reports Chris Osborne.
Auction Price Highlights
| 2017 CAT D6T LGP Straight Blade & Tilt – 2158 hrs | £197,500 |
| 2021 CAT 301.5 Mini Excavator, Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset | £19,000 |
| 2019 Kubota KX080-4 6t excavator, Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, 1,547 Hrs | £47,000 |
| 2019 Thwaites 9 Ton Dumper, Full Cab | £37,500 |
| 2019 JCB 3CX P21 ECO Backhoe Loader | £44,000 |
| 2018 Manitou MT1840 Easy Turbo Telehandler | £52,000 |
| 2018 JCB 535-95 Turbo Powershift Telehandler | £42,000 |
| 2017 JCB 540-140 Hi Viz Turbo Powershift Telehandler | £46,000 |
| 2017 Kobelco SK350LC-10 20t excavator | £89,000 |
| 2017 CAT 320FL 20t excavator | £70,000 |
| 2016 JCB 540-170 Turbo Powershift Telehandler | £48,000 |
| 2014 Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck | £105,000 |
| 2009 Volvo A25E 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck | £62,000 |
Auction Results by Category
| 6T Excavators | |
| 2018 Volvo ECR88D Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset | £43,500 |
| 2017 CAT 308E2 CR 450mm Rubber Block Pads, blade, Offset | £46,000 |
| 2017 JCB 86C-1 Rubber Track, Blade, Offset | £30,000 |
| 10 T Excavators | |
| 2020 Wacker Neuson ET145 500mm Rubber Block Pads | £67,500 |
| 2017 Hitachi ZX130LCN-6 700mm Pads | £55,000 |
| 2017 Hitachi ZX135US-6 700mm Pads | £61,000 |
| 20 T Excavators | |
| 2016 Doosan DX420LC-5 600mm Pads, Demo Cage | £50,000 |
| 2016 Volvo EC380EL 700mm Pads | £68,500 |
| 2014 Volvo EC300DL 700mm Pads | £58,000 |
| Mini-Excavators | |
| 2021 Sany SY50U Rubber Tracks, Blade, Offset, 3000 hrs | £28,500 |
| 2014 Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade | £25,000 |
| 2013 Kubota U55-4 Rubber Tracks, Blade | £22,500 |
| Backhoe Loaders | |
| Mecalac TLB890 Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, Joystick Controls | £54,000 |
| Mecalac TLB870 Turbo Powershift Backhoe Loader, Joystick Controls | £42,000 |
| 2021 Case 851EX 4WD Turbo Backhoe Loader, 4in1 Bucket | £32,500 |
| Dozers | |
| 2018 Komatsu D65PX-18 6 Way Pat Blade, Ripper | £100,000 |
| 2014 CAT D6T LGP Straight Blade & Tilt | £86,000 |
| 2011 Liebherr PR734 LGP Straight Blade & Tilt | £44,000 |
| Articulated Dumptrucks | |
| 2014 Volvo A30G 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Tail Gate | £105,000 |
| 2012 Bell B50D 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck | £50,000 |
| 2010 Terex TA300 6×6 Articulated Dumptruck, Tail Gate | £40,000 |