Belt Loader Market Report 2026

The belt loader market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.08 billion in 2025 to $1.15 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to widespread adoption of manual and low-profile belt loaders for airport ground handling, development of telescopic belt loaders to reach various aircraft cargo heights, rising use of hybrid belt loaders for improved fuel efficiency, implementation of solar-powered belt loaders for environmentally conscious operations, deployment of standard belt loaders to streamline baggage and cargo transfer.

The belt loader market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.49 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for autonomous belt loaders for automated ground operations, expansion of zero-emission and electric belt loader solutions, focus on advanced ergonomic and safety features for ground staff, rising adoption of hybrid and energy-efficient loaders to reduce operational costs, increasing procurement for airport modernization and high-volume cargo handling operations. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of hybrid and solar-powered belt loaders, growing preference for autonomous and self-propelled loaders, increasing use of ergonomic and safety-enhancing loader designs, expansion of loader fleets due to airport capacity upgrades, shift toward low-profile and telescopic belt loaders for wide aircraft compatibility.

The growth of the belt loader market is expected to be fueled by the rising passenger traffic. Passenger traffic encompasses the total number of travelers arriving, departing, or transiting through airports or airlines within a set timeframe. This increase is mainly attributed to rising disposable incomes, allowing more individuals to afford both leisure and business trips, thereby boosting demand in transportation sectors. An increase in passenger numbers heightens the need for efficient baggage handling, particularly during busy travel periods. This situation promotes the use of advanced belt loaders that facilitate faster loading and unloading, shorten turnaround times, and improve ground handling efficiency at crowded airports. For example, Eurostat, a Luxembourg-based government agency, reported that air passengers in the EU reached 973 million in 2023, an increase of 19.3% from 2022. Consequently, the growing passenger traffic is a key factor driving belt loader market growth.

The belt loader market is also propelled by the increasing volumes of air cargo transported. Air cargo volume represents the total amount of goods and freight moved by air over a specific period. This growth is largely driven by the rapid expansion of e-commerce, which demands fast and efficient shipping solutions to satisfy rising consumer expectations for quick deliveries. Belt loaders play a vital role in supporting cargo operations by enabling quick and effective loading and unloading of both baggage and freight, thus maintaining smooth ground operations. They contribute to improved airport logistics by minimizing turnaround time, a crucial factor in handling rising air cargo demands. For instance, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a U.S. government agency, reported that air cargo revenue ton-miles reached 83.82 billion in 2024, up 4.42% from 80.27 billion in 2023. Hence, the growth in air cargo volumes significantly influences the belt loader market expansion.

Leading manufacturers in the belt loader industry are concentrating on the development of advanced features to improve efficiency, safety, and reduce manual labor as well as aircraft damage. One such innovation is the automatic height adjustment system, which allows the conveyor belt to automatically raise or lower to match the height of an aircraft’s cargo hold precisely. For example, in April 2024, Mallaghan Engineering Ltd., a UK-based company specializing in lifting and handling equipment, introduced the SkyBelt belt loader. This fully electric, self-propelled loader includes a patented vertical-lift boom that eliminates lateral movement, significantly lowering the risk of fuselage damage. It also offers automatic height adjustment and an auto-raise function, enabling the loader to seamlessly align with varying aircraft bin floors without operator input.

Major companies operating in the belt loader market are Textron Inc., Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment Co. Ltd., Mallaghan Engineering Limited, TLD Group Inc., Fast Global Solutions Inc., Trepel Airport Equipment GmbH, Power Stow A/S, Aero Specialties Inc., Aviogei Airport Equipment S.r.l., LAS-1 Company Ltd., Sammitr Motors Manufacturing Public Company Limited, MULAG Fahrzeugwerk GmbH, Hangfu Airdrome Equipment Co. Ltd., Jetall GPU Ground Support Equipment Co. Ltd., Shanghai Waycan Industrial Co. Ltd., Darmec Technologies S.r.l., Ersel Technology S.r.l., Harlan Global Manufacturing LLC, Jiangsu Tianyi Aviation Industry Co. Ltd., Shanghai Cartoo Machinery Co., Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the belt loader market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the belt loader market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

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 on metals, batteries, and propulsion components have raised manufacturing costs for belt loaders, affecting electric, hybrid, and self-propelled units most in Asia-Pacific and Europe. These increased costs disrupt supply chains and elevate procurement challenges for airports but also stimulate domestic manufacturing, promote alternative material development, and encourage innovation in zero-emission and cost-efficient loader designs.

The belt loader market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides belt loader market statistics, including belt loader industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a belt loader market share, detailed belt loader market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the belt loader industry. This belt loader 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.

A belt loader is a vehicle fitted with a conveyor belt designed to load and unload baggage and cargo from aircraft. Positioned between the aircraft’s cargo hold and the ground, it facilitates efficient transfer of items. The main function of a belt loader is to enhance ground handling operations by enabling fast, safe, and ergonomic movement of luggage and cargo.

The primary types of belt loaders include self-propelled, electric, towable, diesel-powered, and gas-powered models. A self-propelled belt loader is a type of ground support equipment with its own engine or motor, allowing independent movement without requiring towing. These loaders are further categorized by ownership into new delivery, resale, and lease or rental options, and come in various weight classes such as 0-1000 kilograms (kg), 1000-5000 kg, and over 5000 kg. They are used in both commercial and military airport settings.

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

The belt loader market consists of sales of hybrid belt loader, solar-powered belt loader, manual belt loader, low-profile belt loader, telescopic belt loader, zero-emission belt loader, and autonomous belt loader. 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.

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