Revenue from aerial work platform (AWP) rentals in the United States and Canada increased 9% in 2013 to USD7.18 billion while the result for 10 European countries was flat at EUR2.28 billion.

Two reports from the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) say the worldwide rental fleet includes 1,020,000 AWPs, also known as mobile elevating work platforms, a climb of 6% at 31 December, compared with 2012. The main drivers were growth in Asia and Latin America.

Projections for 2014 AWP rental revenues suggest 7% growth in the US and Canada to USD7.66 billion and 3% growth in the 10 surveyed countries in Europe to EUR2.35 billion.

The US AWP rental fleet expanded by 6% in 2013 with US rental companies expanding fleets, improving rental rates and enhancing utilisation rates, according to IPAF's US Powered Access Rental Market Report 2014, covering the US and Canada.

For the first time, IPAF included research on China, which registered 20% growth on a small base. The China market has about 6,000 AWPs with scissor lifts making up about 65% of the fleet.

The European rental market shows mixed results, according to IPAF's European Powered Access Rental Market Report 2014.

The report on 2013 activities lists results for European countries in three groups: Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland and, to a lesser extent, Denmark and France are among those struggling for rental revenues; Sweden and the UK are among those with slightly increasing rental revenues; and Germany and Norway are experiencing significant growth.

The reports highlight key facts and figures such as fleet size, utilisation rates and retention periods and include an estimate of the AWP rental fleet's size worldwide with a breakdown by region and machine type.

IPAF commissioned the reports from Ducker Worldwide LLC, of Troy, Michigan, United States, an industrial market research and consulting company with global resources.

Crooklands-based IPAF, which is accepting report orders, is a not-for-profit organisation promoting safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide. Members include manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users.