Earth Pressure Balance Shields Market Report 2025

The earth pressure balance shields market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.39 billion in 2024 to $2.58 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing demand for underground infrastructure, a rise in tunneling projects in soft soil conditions, expanding investments in metro rail networks, advancements in mechanized tunneling methods, and escalating urban congestion.

The earth pressure balance shields market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.46 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period is driven by rising urban population densities, a stronger emphasis on sustainable infrastructure, increased adoption in emerging markets, expansion of smart city initiatives, and greater government funding for resilient infrastructure. Key trends expected in the forecast period include advanced tunneling technologies, progress in EPB machine automation and sensor integration, incorporation of digital twin and building information modeling (BIM), innovations in modular design, and enhanced automation integration.

The growing demand for infrastructure is anticipated to drive the expansion of the earth pressure balance shields market in the coming years. Infrastructure demand refers to the increasing need for the construction, enhancement, and upkeep of vital public systems such as transportation networks, utilities, and urban development projects. This rising demand stems from rapid urbanization, as expanding urban populations require improved transportation networks, water supply, sewage systems, and utilities to meet their everyday needs. Earth pressure balance shields facilitate this infrastructure demand by enabling efficient, safe, and cost-effective tunneling in soft ground conditions, minimizing surface disruptions during underground construction. For example, in July 2025, a report by the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicated that total investment in the infrastructure sector reached $27.57 billion (£20.3 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 16.9% increase compared to 2023. Consequently, the increasing infrastructure demand is fueling growth in the earth pressure balance shields market.

Leading companies in the earth pressure balance shields market are emphasizing advanced technological innovations, such as autonomous tunnel boring machine technology, to support infrastructure development. Autonomous tunnel boring machine technology involves the integration of artificial intelligence and automated control systems that allow a tunnel boring machine to carry out repetitive excavation tasks, steering, and monitoring functions with enhanced precision while being overseen by operators. For instance, in September 2023, Gamuda AU, an Australian engineering, property, and infrastructure firm, introduced its first autonomous tunnel boring machine (TBM) in Australia as part of the Sydney Metro West - West-Western Tunneling Package. This marks the inaugural implementation of autonomous TBM technology in Australia, representing a significant advancement in tunneling innovation in the region. In partnership with Laing O’Rourke, Gamuda is constructing twin 9-kilometer tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead, forming a critical segment of the 24-kilometer Sydney Metro West line that will connect Sydney CBD to Parramatta. This project signifies the first use of autonomous TBM technology in Australia and highlights a substantial improvement in tunneling efficiency and safety.

In June 2023, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), a US-based mass transit system, purchased a 54-foot-diameter Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) from Herrenknecht AG for $76 million. This acquisition is intended to facilitate the construction of a five-mile underground tunnel designed to house two train tracks, three underground station platforms, and essential operational facilities, ensuring safe, efficient, and uninterrupted rail travel beneath heavily congested urban roads. Herrenknecht AG is a Germany-based, specializes in manufacturing earth pressure balance shields.

Major players in the earth pressure balance shields market are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., XCMG Kaigong Heavy Industry Co Ltd, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Ltd., China Railway Hi-Tech Industry, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Dalian Huarui Heavy Industry Group Co Ltd., Tolian Heavy Industry & Technology Co Ltd., The Robbins Company, Herrenknecht AG, Akkerman Inc., TERRATEC Ltd., Seli Overseas S.p.A, Bradshaw Construction Corporation, Terratest Group, Eurohinca S.A., JIM Technology Corporation, UGITEC S.A.S., Realtop Heavy Industry Co Ltd., and SN Mercantile India Pvt Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the earth pressure balance shields market in 2024, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the earth pressure balance shields market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

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.

The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the construction sector, particularly in materials procurement and project costs. Higher duties on imported steel, aluminum, lumber, and machinery have driven up expenses for builders, contractors, and infrastructure developers, leading to increased project bids and delayed timelines. Construction equipment manufacturers face similar challenges, with tariffs on essential components and raw materials inflating production costs and squeezing margins. Additionally, retaliatory tariffs in international markets have curtailed exports of U.S.-made construction equipment and materials, further affecting profitability. The sector must now prioritize local sourcing, modular construction techniques, and supply chain diversification to control costs and ensure project viability amid ongoing trade uncertainties.

Earth pressure balance (EPB) shields are tunnel boring machines that utilize the excavated soil to counterbalance the earth pressure at the tunnel face during excavation. This technique maintains stability in soft ground conditions by supporting the tunnel face with the excavated material, which helps prevent ground settlement and ensures the safe construction of tunnels.

The primary types of earth pressure balance shields include single shield, double shield, and gripper tunnel boring machines (TBMs). A single shield is a tunneling machine equipped with one protective cover that excavates and lines the tunnel in stable ground. The technologies involved encompass conventional earth pressure balance technology, advanced earth pressure balance technology, and hybrid systems. These machines operate at various depths, including shallow and deep tunneling, for applications such as urban tunneling, infrastructure development, mining operations, and pipeline construction. They serve multiple end users, including civil engineering, utilities, oil and gas, and transportation sectors.

The earth pressure balance shields market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides earth pressure balance shields market statistics, including earth pressure balance shields industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a earth pressure balance shields market share, earth pressure balance shields market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the earth pressure balance shields industry. This earth pressure balance shields 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 earth pressure balance shields market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as tunnel excavation, tunnel face pressure control, cutterhead maintenance, soil conditioning, and tunnel boring machine (TBM) operational monitoring. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The earth pressure balance shields market also includes sales of earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines (TBMs), cutterheads, screw conveyors, slurry pumps, and control 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.

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