Data center and energy investments are expected to drive further growth in global demand for aerial work platform equipment.

The ongoing robust development of global AI data center (AIDC) projects is anticipated to persist, fueling a continuous increase in the need for aerial work platforms worldwide. This trend supports the sustained high demand for exporting this equipment, presenting a potential opportunity for domestic manufacturers.

Key companies mentioned include Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co., Ltd. (603338.SH), XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (000425.SZ), and Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (000157.SZ).

Analysis of Market Drivers

A recent report from the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) indicated a 4% growth in the U.S. aerial work platform rental market in 2025, reaching approximately $15.8 billion, exceeding initial expectations. This growth is attributed to the cost advantages of renting versus purchasing, solid underlying demand, and business activities related to facility management and data center projects.

Infrastructure Investments Fueling Equipment Demand

Investments in AI infrastructure, such as data centers, have become a significant driver for the application of aerial platforms in the U.S. An analysis of U.S. private construction spending reveals that data center and energy investments are key contributors.

From January to May 2026, while total non-residential private construction spending in the U.S. declined by 1.7% year-over-year, the office construction segment—which accounts for 14.4% of non-residential spending—saw a 17.1% increase. Within this segment, data center-related spending surged 47.7% year-over-year, constituting 54.7% of office construction expenditure. Concurrently, energy sector spending (including natural gas and oil), representing 21.3% of non-residential spending, grew by 9.0%.

Considering the IPAF report alongside this data, it is evident that data center construction is experiencing high activity. Furthermore, North America and the global market are entering a new phase of power infrastructure development, which is being accelerated by data center needs. Looking forward, data center and energy investments are poised to stimulate further growth in global demand for aerial work platforms.

Sustained Momentum for AIDC Projects and Equipment Exports

Market confidence in computing power investment is gradually recovering. Initial concerns about a global surplus in computing infrastructure, sparked by Meta's announcement of external computing power rental services, have eased following its subsequent commitment to invest $10 billion in building its first data center in Canada.

From the upstream supply chain perspective, SK Hynix recently stated that 2027 could be the year of the tightest supply in the memory industry's history. Despite its efforts to expand capacity, customer demand is likely to outstrip its supply capabilities even beyond 2030.

The development of AI applications is still in its early stages, with the potential to empower numerous products and production scenarios, including humanoid robots. These latent computing power demands have yet to be fully realized, indicating that an oversupply of computing power is not an imminent concern.

Therefore, the robust cycle of global AIDC project construction is expected to continue. This will sustain the growth in demand for aerial work platform equipment globally, maintaining the high export momentum for such machinery and potentially benefiting domestic manufacturers.

Key Risk Factors

Potential risks include macroeconomic volatility leading to lower-than-expected investment, slower-than-anticipated data center construction, international trade risks, and intensifying industry competition.