According to FADA Research data, JCB India sold 2,265 units in May 2026

The Indian wheeled construction equipment (CE) market witnessed a sharp year-on-year decline in May 2026, with total industry sales falling 17.5 per cent to 5,088 units from 6,168 units in May 2025. The decline was not only on a year-on-year basis, but also sequentially. Industry sales in May 2026 declined nearly 20 per cent when compared with 6,348 units reported in April, indicating a broad-based moderation in demand for wheeled CE.

While the wheeled CE market contracted sharply in May 2026, JCB, Escorts Kubota and Bull Machines gained market share, reinforcing their positions in an increasingly concentrated industry landscape.

According to FADA Research data, JCB India sold 2,265 units in May 2026 (2,414 units). Despite a 6.2 per cent decline in sales, its market share jumped to 44.52 per cent (39.14 per cent), gaining over 5 percentage points.

Action Construction Equipment (ACE) retained the second position with sales of 632 units (712 units), down 11.2 per cent. However, its market share improved marginally to 12.42 per cent (11.54 per cent).

Escorts Kubota emerged as one of the gainers during the month. Sales rose 6.1 per cent to 401 units (378 units), while its market share increased to 7.88 per cent (6.13 per cent).

Among other manufacturers, the Coimbatore-based Bull Machines recorded strong growth, with sales rising 28.8 per cent to 179 units (139 units). Its market share expanded to 3.52 per cent (2.25 per cent).

Elevated base

The 17.5 per cent on-year decline in May 2026 retail sales, compounded by a sequential drop of around 23 per cent from April, is consistent with a broader trend that has weighed on wheeled CE segment through much of FY26, a year that followed a high base in FY25. The elevated base, combined with slower on-ground execution, has visibly weighed on fleet utilisation levels, which in turn has kept fresh equipment demand subdued, said Poonam Upadhyay, Director, Crisil Ratings.

While government capex allocations remained at historically-high levels, delays in project execution, land acquisition challenges and slower disbursement cycles held back demand. Unlike consumer-facing segments, CE demand is driven by on-ground contract activity, and seasonal softness ahead of monsoon adds to near-term pressure, she said.

Published on June 11, 2026