New industry reports about powered access rental markets project 2012 growth of 9% in the United States to USD6.80 billion and 4% in Europe to EUR2.36 billion (USD3.11 billion).

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) again commissioned industrial market research firm Ducker Worldwide LLC of Troy, Michigan to develop the reports, which provide details about rental fleet size, utilisation rate, retention periods and power sources.

The US market for aerial work platforms grew 8% during 2011 to USD6.23 billion, mainly from increased demand that led to higher rental rates, according to the report. The 2010 figure was USD5.75 billion.

The market in 10 surveyed European countries for mobile elevating work platforms grew 7% during 2011 to EUR2.28 billion (USD3 billion) from 2010's EUR2.13 billion (USD2.81 billion). The largest markets by value are Germany, followed by France and the United Kingdom. The markets were also surveyed in Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

According to the European report, lack of confidence resulting from an uncertain economic outlook is expected to hold back the near-term market.

Ducker Worldwide predicts 40% annual fleet growth over the next five years in Brazil, an emerging market that is the focus of this year's rental reports. If correct, the current estimated fleet of 14,500 to 15,000 units would increase to 25,000 by the end of 2013.

"The first IPAF rental market reports by Ducker were published in 2010, based on the year 2009," says Berlinda Nadarajan, IPAF information officer.

IPAF will hold its second US convention on 22-23 October at the ChampionsGate golf resort in ChampionsGate near Orlando, Florida.

In addition to its Crooklands headquarters, IPAF has offices in Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and the US.