Features Breakbulk & Project Cargo
Selective investment
Economic risks, equipment shortages threaten heavy-lift project drivers
By Keith Wallis
The global shift to renewable energies coupled with AIrelated investment and expansion of heavy industrial projects is driving a new cycle of growth in the heavy transport and lifting sector, industry executives say.
But these strong market conditions are also causing potential equipment shortages, while the geopolitical and economic challenges affecting the wider logistics industry are increasing investment risks, they added.
“ Internationally, demand remains particularly strong in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and North America, supported by energy, infrastructure, industrial, mining, manufacturing, LNG, data center and reshoring projects,” Boris Dykiert, commercial director at dteq Transport Engineering Solutions, told the Journal of Commerce. dteq is part of the Switzerland-headquartered deugro group.
“ These risks have a significant impact on investment decisions.”
“ In Europe, the outlook is cautiously optimistic,” he said.“ Investment continues, but clients are more disciplined due to economic pressure, permitting complexity, regulation, and energy-transition uncertainty.”
Saida Sawyer, corporate vice president of Global Energy Solutions at deugro, highlighted the different markets in Asia.
“ Asia is not monolithic, especially when it comes to project logistics,” she explained.“ Southeast Asia remains very active around LNG, petrochemical, power generation, and broader industrial expansion projects. South Korea continues to generate demand through fabrication, manufacturing, and export-driven project cargo movements, while India is becoming increasingly important thanks to major investments in energy, infrastructure, and industrial development.”
Investments under pressure
Shifts in political priorities, changing government strategies, and wider geopolitical issues are creating uncertainty for investors, according to Fabio Belli, president of the European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes( ESTA).
“ Since the heavy-lift industry requires substantial capital expenditure in specialized equipment, these risks have a significant impact on investment decisions,” Belli told the Journal of Commerce.
This, in turn, could jeopardize growth in the heavy transport and lifting sector, added Belli, executive vice president and COO of Kerry Project Logistics and former CEO of heavy transport company Fagioli.
A possible lack of investment meant the industry could face a global shortage of critical equipment, including ring cranes, self-propelled modular transporters( SPMTs), and other specialized heavy transport assets.
“ This potential capacity constraint may become one of the sector’ s key challenges in the coming years, together with the shortage of a skilled workforce,” Belli said.
Strong market conditions are already tightening the supply of equipment, which is leading customers to engage heavy transport and lifting companies earlier in the project development process to be certain equipment is available, executives said. This has accentuated the wider recent trend of land-based heavy transport and lifting being brought onboard earlier.
“ Globally, heavy transport and lifting capacity remains tight in specific segments, particularly SPMT fleets, highcapacity cranes, and experienced engineering resources,” Sawyer said.“ As a result, equipment availability, lead times, and day rates remain relatively firm despite a more selective project sanctioning environment.
“ This is translating more into tighter planning requirements and higher equipment rates than widespread project delays,” she added.“ The industry has become much more proactive about securing critical heavy transport and lifting capacity early in the project lifecycle because everyone has seen what happens when they leave it too late.”
Dykiert added that project developers and engineering and procurement contractors increasingly recognize that transport and lifting are project-enabling activities.
“ Therefore, there is a greater focus on early contractor involvement, feasibility of transportation, review of design, integrated engineering between EPCs, logistics providers, and heavy-lift specialists,” he said.
“ It is the same challenge the shipping sector identified years ago, and the industry is increasingly addressing it through earlier engagement and more integrated project delivery models,” Dykiert added.
Keeping the wheels turning
Pointing to the growth of specific cargoes, Sawyer said new energy projects have become an increasingly important part of the heavy transport and lifting market, augmenting wind energy and industrial cargoes.
“ Battery energy storage systems( BESS) have grown significantly in both scale and volume, creating entirely new logistics challenges due to larger component sizes, increased shipment frequencies, and tighter delivery schedules,” she said.“ Some of these BESS projects are in the pipeline for energy companies such as SLB( formerly Schlumberger) in North America.”
14 Journal of Commerce | September 2026 www. joc. com