Drum Handling Equipment Global Market Report 2026

Drum handling equipment comprises a variety of mechanical tools designed to securely hold, move, shift, and transport cylindrical modules such as steel drums, barrels, plastic drums, and fiber drums. This equipment is frequently utilized in industries that involve the shipping and storage of cylindrical modules, such as the chemical and petroleum industries.

The primary types of drum handling equipment include manual drum handling equipment and automatic drum handling equipment. Manual drum handling equipment encompasses tools and devices that operate through human effort and physical force. These tools are distributed through both direct and indirect channels and find applications in various industries, including food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial, and others.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are impacting the drum handling equipment market by increasing the cost of imported steel frames, hydraulic components, electric motors, control units, and fabricated mechanical parts used in both manual and automatic systems. Chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial users in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported material handling equipment and components, while Asia-Pacific manufacturers face higher export-related cost pressures. These tariffs have led to higher equipment prices and delayed capital expenditure decisions among end users. At the same time, tariffs are encouraging local fabrication, regional sourcing of components, and investments in domestic manufacturing facilities, supporting long-term supply chain resilience and cost optimization.

The drum handling equipment market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides drum handling equipment market statistics, including drum handling equipment industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a drum handling equipment market share, detailed drum handling equipment market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the drum handling equipment industry. This drum handling equipment market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The drum handling equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.89 billion in 2025 to $3.06 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of chemical and petroleum industries, growth in industrial material handling activities, increasing workplace safety regulations, rising use of drums for bulk material transport, availability of basic manual handling equipment.

The drum handling equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.05 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing automation in warehouses and factories, rising investments in smart material handling solutions, expansion of pharmaceutical and food processing industries, growing focus on ergonomics compliance, increased demand for efficient logistics operations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of automated drum handling systems, rising focus on worker safety and ergonomics, growing demand for electric and battery-powered drum lifters, expansion of drum handling in hazardous material environments, integration of smart sensors for load monitoring.

The growth of the chemical industry is expected to drive the expansion of the drum-handling equipment market in the coming years. Expansion in the chemical industry involves development and innovation, including increased capital investments in new areas. Drum-handling equipment enhances the efficiency of chemical handling operations by facilitating the safe movement of drums from one location to another. It also helps prevent spills and leaks by providing a secure and stable method for transporting drums. For example, in August 2024, the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government agency, reported that in June 2024, exports to non-EU countries increased by $1.15 billion (5.7%), driven by a $1.15 billion rise in chemical exports, primarily due to higher shipments of inorganic chemicals, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, and organic chemicals to the United States. Therefore, the expansion of the chemical industry is propelling the growth of the drum-handling equipment market.

Leading companies in the drum-handling equipment market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as hydraulic drum handlers, to enhance operational efficiency, improve workplace safety, reduce manual labor, and address the growing demand for efficient material handling across industrial and warehouse sectors. A hydraulic drum handler is a type of material handling equipment designed to lift, transport, tilt, and position heavy drums or barrels safely and efficiently using hydraulic power. For example, in October 2025, Global Industrial, a US-based industrial equipment manufacturer, launched the Hydraulic Drum Handler with Universal Grip and Adjustable Support, an advanced solution capable of securely accommodating various drum sizes. This hydraulic drum handler features a universal grip system that adjusts to different diameters, a robust hydraulic lifting mechanism for smooth vertical movement, and an adjustable support bracket for enhanced stability during transport. It reduces the risk of spills, improves operational efficiency, and is suitable for warehouses, factories, and chemical handling environments, combining safety, versatility, and ease of use to outperform conventional drum handling tools.

In July 2025, SILA Solutions Private Limited, an India-based provider of advanced logistics and storage solutions, partnered with Nilkamal to improve the distribution and accessibility of high-quality, sustainable storage and material handling solutions. Through this collaboration, SILA aims to expand its market presence and strengthen its capabilities in delivering innovative storage solutions. Nilkamal Limited, based in India, specializes in plastic products, including high-quality furniture, storage, and industrial solutions.

Major companies operating in the drum handling equipment market are Wesco Industrial Products LLC, KION Group AG, Jungheinrich AG, Hyster-Yale Group Inc., Crown Equipment Corporation, Hangcha Group Co. Ltd., Lonking Holdings Limited, SSI SCHAEFER Group, RUD Group, METO Systems Inc., EP Equipment Co. Ltd., Flexicon Corporation, Beacon Industries Inc., Pentalift Equipment Corporation, Greenfield Products LLC, Valley Craft Industries Inc., BHS Inc., Morse Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lift Products Inc., Material Flow and Conveyor Systems Inc., Ruger Industries Inc., Wuxi Tongyang Machinery Technology Co. Ltd., Drum Runner Material Handling Co., Easy Lift Equipment Company Inc., Eastwest Engineering & Electronics Pvt. Ltd., KIJEKA Engineers Pvt Ltd., Liftomatic Material Handling Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the drum handling equipment market in 2025. The regions covered in the drum handling equipment market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the drum handling equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The drum handling equipment market consists of sales of drum lifters and drum dispensers, drum dollies and trucks, forklift drum attachments, drum rotators and mixers, palletizers, drum handling cranes and drum transport systems. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Drum Handling Equipment Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses drum handling equipment market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for drum handling equipment ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The drum handling equipment market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Manual Drum Handling Equipment; Automatic Drum Handling Equipment
• 2) By Distribution Channel: Direct; Indirect
• 3) By Application: Food; Chemicals; Pharmaceutical; Industrial; Other Applications
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Manual Drum Handling Equipment: Drum Lifters; Drum Trolleys; Drum Rollers; Drum Cradles
• 2) By Automatic Drum Handling Equipment: Automated Drum Dispensing Systems; Robotic Drum Handling Systems; Electric Drum Lifters; Conveyor Systems For Drums
• Companies Mentioned: Wesco Industrial Products LLC; KION Group AG; Jungheinrich AG; Hyster-Yale Group Inc.; Crown Equipment Corporation; Hangcha Group Co. Ltd.; Lonking Holdings Limited; SSI SCHAEFER Group; RUD Group; METO Systems Inc.; EP Equipment Co. Ltd.; Flexicon Corporation; Beacon Industries Inc.; Pentalift Equipment Corporation; Greenfield Products LLC; Valley Craft Industries Inc.; BHS Inc.; Morse Manufacturing Co. Inc.; Lift Products Inc.; Material Flow and Conveyor Systems Inc.; Ruger Industries Inc.; Wuxi Tongyang Machinery Technology Co. Ltd.; Drum Runner Material Handling Co.; Easy Lift Equipment Company Inc.; Eastwest Engineering & Electronics Pvt. Ltd.; KIJEKA Engineers Pvt Ltd.; Liftomatic Material Handling Inc.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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