The trailer market - France (2024)

1.2 A fast-growing global market

Trailer market size World, ****-****, in billions Source: ****

The trailer market is growing: the cumulative annual growth rate in the global trailer market has been *.*% since ****, testifying to a gentle but definite recovery from the Covid. Growth is set to accelerate to $**.* billion in ****, at a CAGR of **.*% per annum.

Asia Pacific is the largest market, followed by North America.

According to the American Trucking Association, the national trade association for the U.S. trucking industry, trucks carry around **% of the nation's freight, which is due to the country's expanding population. Demographic expansion is expected to be the main driver of increased transportation demand in countries such as India, Brazil and African countries over the forecast period. Companies in the market are expected to experience growth in demand for truck trailers from manufacturers of goods such as food, automobiles, clothing and other consumer goods. [***]

Trailer market size by region World, ****, in % [Globe Newswire Source: ****

In recent years, the drivers of market growth have been the expansion of the logistics industry associated with the increase in cold chain transport, the additional transport capacity of trailers and the consequent reduction in costs.

However, there are still some disincentives to the purchase of trailers, ...

1.3 Renewed growth in the European market

Over the long term, the European semi-trailer fleet has grown by **% compared to ****. Althoughthe European trailer market has been growing since **** and up to ****, it is still struggling to recover its pre-Covid figures, as the pandemic has had a major impact on demand in the transport sector. Holland is the only country in Western Europe where the number of registrations in **** has returned to the same or even higher figures as in ****, thanks to strong exports. Belgium, on the other hand, is struggling to recover from the Covid pandemic and the drastic reduction in the use of semi-trailers, with declines ranging from **% to **% compared with ****. The year **** even suffers from a decrease in the value of semi-trailers registered on the market, as shown in the graph below concerning semi-trailers.

New semi-trailer registrations If we look at the European market for light commercial vehicle trailers, we also see average growth of **% between **** and ****. Indeed, demand for light commercial vehicles was growing, with almost **% of goods in Europe transported by road, and notably in trailers.

However, since **** the market has been suffering from a delayed economic slowdown, andover **** as a whole, registrations are expected to fall by just over **%, bringing the average for ...

1.4 Market segmentation for trailers and semi-trailers

Trailer market size France, ****-****, in billions of euros

After a complicated ****-**** period, the French body and trailer manufacturing market is back on the rise, with a strong **% increase between **** and ****. Covid caused this sales figure to fall by **%, before recovering to a compound annual growth rate (***) of **%.

In the rest of this section, we can distinguish three types of trailer: semi-trailers, heavy-duty trailers, and light-duty trailers.

The semi-trailer segment

In terms of volumes, we also see a slow, gradual increase in the number of semi-trailers registered in France from **** to ****, and a downturn after ****. Before Covid, the number of new semi-trailers registered rose by +**% between **** and ****.Covid led to a significant drop of -**%, bringing the number of new semi-trailer registrations back down to **** levels. Finally, since the pandemic, the market has struggled to recover, dropping to **,*** new vehicle registrations in ****.

When we consider the cumulative total of new and used semi-trailers, we still record growth of *% between **** and ****.

Total number of semi-trailers registered in France from **** to **** France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****

The trailer segment

Growth in new trailer registrations France, ****-**** Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion

The number of trailer registrations is far higher than ...

1.5 France, a net importer of trailers and semi-trailers

The figures below were obtained using code **** "Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not mechanically propelled; and their components" on the UN Comtrade international trade site.

Foreign trade in trailers and semi-trailers France, ****-****, in billions of USD Source: ****

While French exports of trailers and semi-trailers remained broadly stable from **** to ****, there was an increase between **** and **** : exports rose from USD *** billion to USD *** billion in ****, an increase of **%. Imports have also risen from $*** billion to $*** billion, an increase of **%.

Export destination for trailers and semi-trailers France, ****, in Source: ****

Imports of trailers and semi-trailers mainly come from European countries close to France, with a majority of imports from Germany. However, dependency seems to be decreasing, with a better distribution of the supplier portfolio, since in ****, for example, France was dependent on Germany for **% of its imports, whereas in **** it will account for only **%.

The average of France's main import partners is still around *-*% for Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. The USA, on the other hand, has a growing share of French imports, since it was not in the top* in ****, and will catch up with China in *th place in ****.

Origin of trailer and semi-trailer imports France, ****, in Source: ****

In terms ...

2.1 Peak demand around Easter and summer vacations

Google Trends QSR France, ****-****, index base *** Source: ****

A study of the evolution of the sales index on the trailer market clearly illustrates its seasonal nature. Indeed, peaks are mainly seen in the days and weeks preceding the Easter and summer vacations. This phenomenon is logical insofar as private individuals mainly buy trailers with a view to going on vacation, as a complement to their car boot. Winter, on the other hand, is an off-peak period, during which sales drop quite sharply.

2.2 A market affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

Trend in trailer sales France, **** - ****, index base *** **** Source: ****

A study of monthly sales trends in the trailer market clearly shows the impact of Covid-** on the industry. Indeed, while the figures for February and March are not particularly worrying as this is the slow period on the market, those for April, May and July are more so, as they are expected to be above an index of ***. There was indeed a peak in June (***), but this was preceded and followed by periods of declining activity, which is not usually the case at the same time of year.

Trigano, the French market leader, saw its sales fall by **.*% over the period March to May ****. Sales of trailers, which account for almost *% of the Group's total sales, fell by **.*%, which is less than the company's total sales but still very substantial. However, it is important to qualify these poor results, since the Group's sales picked up again over the summer thanks in particular to "the liftinge of containment measures in most European countries in May was accompanied by a sharp increase in leisure vehicle sales". [***]

However, there will be an upturn in **** and ****: in December ****, for example, we're at an index of ...

2.3 The construction industry, a major outlet for trailers

The building industry is one of the main markets for trailer manufacturers, due to the need for craftsmen and construction workers to transport bulky goods. The Batiweb site, for example, lists trailers and semi-trailers used by construction professionals: there are road trailers, scaffolding trailers, multi-axle trailers (***), semi-trailers with tipper or designed for transporting goods, and so on.

Sales trends in the trailer and construction markets France, ****-****, index base *** **** Source: ****

The correlation between the trailer and construction markets is clearly visible in the graph above. It therefore seems consistent to assert that construction is one of the driving forces behind the trailer market. It's also interesting to note that trailers seem to over-react to building market trends. When the construction industry grows, trailers increase at a faster rate than the construction industry, and when the construction industry contracts, trailers fall at a faster rate than the construction industry. This phenomenon could be explained by the fact that the trailer is a durable good, and so building industry players can put off renewing their range in the event of market tension.

2.4 Freight transport drives the trailer market

Trends in road freight and trailer registrations France, ****-****, in billions of tonne-km, in thousands of units Source: ****

The graph above clearly illustrates the correlation between new trailer registrations and road freight intensity. When road freight traffic increases, demand for trailer registrations rises; conversely, demand falls when fewer goods are transported on French roads. The health of the trailer market therefore depends in part on the health of road haulage. This link seems logical, since trailers are designed to increase a vehicle's transport capacity.

We can therefore study the freight transport market to see how trailers can develop.it is possible to estimate the size of the freight transport market at around *** billion euros for the year **** according to Transport Achat, which uses figures from the French Ministry of Ecological Transition for ****. The sector's growth is relatively sustained, exceeding *.*% on average every year since ****. by ****, the road haulage market is expected to grow by +*%. In France, the majority of goods are transported by road, and therefore potentially by trailer. Rail and river freight will account for only **% of the volume of goods transported in ****. Air transport accounts for *% of goods transported, but **% of the total value, according to Transport Achat.

Breakdown ...

3.1 A fragmented market in the throes of consolidation

Number of companies in the bodywork and trailer manufacturing industry France, ****-****, in units Source: ****

Number of employees in the trailer industry France, ****-****, in units Source: ****

According to INSEE data on bodywork and trailer manufacturing, the market is undergoing a major transformation.

There are a large number of companies operating in the bodywork and trailer sector in France (***). While this number was in sharp decline over the ****-**** period - falling by **% in twelve years - the decline in the number of structures seems to be slowing down, or even coming to an end, since in ****, for the first time in twelve years, the number of companies in the bodywork and trailer sector is expected to rise by a further **%. first time in twelve years, the number of facilities rose again, a phenomenon that continued in the following years ****, **** and ****, recording an overall increase of **%

Alongside the decline in the number of companies, employment also fell sharply. The industry had lost almost *,*** jobs in twelve years, representing an **% drop between **** and ****. Employment has therefore fallen much faster than the number of companies over the period.

However, as the number of establishments rises, the number of employees in the bodywork and ...

3.2 Three main trailer distribution networks

According to the Erdé brand, the main distribution networks are :

Car centers and supermarkets Motorcycle and agricultural networks Exclusive trailer dealers

Erdé has three product ranges for different networks:

Erdé Classic: auto centers, mass retailers Daxara by Erdé: motorcycle and agricultural networks, specialized networks Erdé Expert: motorcycle and agricultural networks, specialized networks

In the case of brands aimed purely at professionals, sales at production sites or trade shows are more developed.

3.3 The farm trailer market

In addition to trailers for trucks and cars, trailers are also found on the agricultural market. If we look at sales trends in the agricultural and forestry machinery manufacturing sector, which includes the sub-category "self-loading and self-unloading trailers and agricultural semi-trailers", we can see that these are growing. The index in November **** was around *** compared with a base of *** in ****, and the index in November **** was around ***, an increase of **% on ****.

Agricultural and forestry machinery manufacturing sales index France, ****-****

In the agricultural trailer segment, only one player exceeds a **% market share: Rolland from Brittany . It is followed by Devès with *.*% and Siam Gyrax with *%. In all, the five biggest players account for less than a third of the market, revealing its highly fragmented nature.

Players in the agricultural trailer segment France, ****, in Source: ****

4.1 Products

There are several types of trailer, distinguished by their construction, length or use (***):

The trailer can be made up of a wheel, axles steered by a pivot or a kingpin. Heavy-duty trailers may have several axles to support the weight.

The width of trailers is governed by the Highway Code:

*.** meters for thick-walled trailers *.** meters for trailers for other vehicles *.** meters for vehicles without overhanging wheels * meters for two-wheeled vehicles * meter for mopeds.

The authorized length varies according to the type of vehicle being towed:

** metres for trailers without a hitch **.* meters for articulated vehicles **.* metres for articulated coaches or buses **.* meters for articulated buses

The use of trailers varies according to model:

Luggage trailers are used to transport luggage during moving operations. The utility trailer is used to transport materials or green waste. The motorcycle carrier is used to transport two-wheeled machines. Boat carriers are used to transport boats.

Finally, there are different classes of trailer:

Class I and II hitches can carry up to *,*** kg (***), enabling a car to tow conventional caravans, a personal watercraft or a utility trailer with motorcycles or snowmobiles on board. Class III tows up to *,*** kg (***). Class IV allows towing of up ...

4.2 A market with rising prices

French industrial producer price index for the French market France, ****-****, index base *** in **** Source: ****

While production prices for car bodies, trailers and semi-trailers remained stable overall in ****, **** and ****, with a very slight increase, production prices have begun to rise drastically since the end of ****. The French industry's production price index for the French market has risen from *** to *** in the space of just * years. This is undoubtedly due to the drop in demand linked to the Covid-** crisis, as well as the war in Ukraine, which led to a sharp rise in energy and raw materials costs.

nevertheless, **** offers some hope of a plateau, or at least a slowdown in this frantic rise in prices.

4.3 Trailer price range by type

Ooreka gives a guide price for new trailers:

Price table by trailer type, France, ****

Source: ****

4.4 A fast-changing market driven by numerous innovations

German strategy consultancy Roland Berger has published a report outlining the main trends that are set to shape the commercial vehicle market over the next decade. These trends revolve around four pillars:

New logistics Electrification and alternative transport Autonomous trucks Digitalization

For the trailer market, pillars *. *. and *. are expected to have the greatest impact.

New logistics

The business models of industry players are set to evolve, with greater sector specialization. This is the approach taken by Ouest Remorque, a trailer manufacturer based in Isigny-le-Buat (***), which has decided to concentrate on larger volumes. The company's primary target is farmers, whose farms are larger on average than they were ten years ago. So there's a real need for trailers of sufficient size to be used on very large farms. [***]

This market evolution also involves the development of new technological solutions. Farm trailer manufacturer Dangreville, for example, has developed the first trailer chassis in composite materials. The aim is firstly to combat the compaction of agricultural soils, which is bad for crops, and secondly to reduce the compaction of roads. Emmanuel Dangreville, co-director of the family business, explains that "Using composite materials saves two tons of weight. So it's good for the soil, but ...

5.1 Strict regulations on trailer use

To comply with trailer regulations, it's important to understand the meaning of the terms used:

PV (***): weight of the trailer without load; GVW (***): maximum weight of the loaded trailer; CU (***): authorized load for transporting goods; Actual weight : refers to the weight of the trailer and its load; the actual weight must not exceed the GVWR; GVWR (***): obtained by adding the GVWR of the towing vehicle to that of the trailer.

The trailer must be fitted with a plate attached to its side, specifying :

pV ; gVWR ; overall width ; overall length including drawbar; surface area.

The manufacturer's plate is usually affixed to the drawbar and indicates :

the manufacturer's name ; trailer type and serial number; gross vehicle weight.

In terms of trailer regulations, supporting documents are mandatory.

Regulations differ according to GVW:

Depending on the type of trailer, different licenses are required.

A B license is sufficient to tow a car trailer with a GVW of less than *** kg, or a trailer with a GVW of over *** kg, provided that the sum of the GVWs (***) does not exceed *,*** kg.

If the sum of the GVWRs is between *,*** and *,*** kg, the B license can be used on condition that you complete a *-hour training course: ...

6.1 Segmentation of the trailer industry

• Schmitz-Cargobull
• Schwarzmüller
• Wielton
• Krone
• Humbaur
• Kamaz
• Lohr Industrie
• Trouillet Carrosserie groupe
• Hubière
• SEMAT (Zoeller groupe)
• Magyar
• Benalu
• Erdé
• Fruehauf (Wielton Group)
• Decauville Marel (Fassi Group)
• Eurobenne
• Forez Bennes
• Gourdon Frères
• Garnier Remorques
• General au service du cheval
• Bennalu Legras industrie
• Libner
• Remorques Louault Groupe
• Rolland Treflevenez
• Cheval Liberté - Nancy Cheval
• Pommier Groupe
• Devès Remorques
• Siam Gyrax