Some £32m changed hands at one of Europe's biggest plant and machinery sales, which attracted buyers from more than 90 countries.

The latest Euro Auctions sale at its UK site in Leeds operated on three levels, with the August sale run as a 'live sale' with floor bidders buying on the day, which was supplemented by live, 'on-line' streaming which attracting 69% of all bidding and the last day of this four-day sale featuring a 'timed sale' on the Saturday.

Chris Osborne, one of Euro Auctions territory managers for the UK said: "The current supply-chain is still strangled, with delivery times still quoted well into 2022, giving the used machinery and equipment market huge appeal.

"This sale drew a solid crowd, and with Covid restrictions relaxing it was evident from the first-time registrations and the new faces in the crowd, that the used equipment market has huge appeal, and it was good to see so many new faces in the crowd."

He added that it was the smaller equipment items and machinery that grabbed the attention of buyers with mini diggers, site dumpers, 6t excavators, man-lifts, skid-steer loaders well bid for.

Talking to buyers, Mr Osborne said it was evident that the smaller infrastructure and the domestic construction market had surged since Covid rules had relaxed, and contractors were acquiring equipment for specific projects, house building, landscaping projects, surfacing and civils projects. That said, bigger ticket items were still grabbing the attention of buyers.

Whilst 515 consignors from 20 countries participated in the sale, it was the home market that made the auction their own, with 90% of all vendors coming from the UK.

Since Covid, bidder numbers have remained strong, with repeatedly 3500+ bidders registering at each sale. At the August sale, 3200 bidders participated with 15% being first time registrations, with 35% buying on the day.

Another statistic witnessed by Euro Auctions over the last 18 months is that bidders and buyers remain loyal to their own 'country' sale, with the top bidding countries being: UK, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Netherlands and Spain.

By world region, the top buyers were: United Kingdom – £16.6m (51.8% of total); Europe – £14.4m (44.97%); Middle East – £457,000 (1.4%); Africa – £418,000 (1.3%); rest of the World – £98,000 (0.37%).

LEADING prices

Tractors – £31,000, 2012 John Deere 6830 4wd tractor, front suspension, 3 spool valves, A/C; £50,000, 2015 Valtra T174 active 4wd , front linkage, front PTO; £26,000, 2008 New Holland T7030 4wd tractor, rear suspension, air brakes; £29,000, 2011 New Holland T6050 4wd, front suspension, cab suspension.

Excavator 6t – £38,000, 2017 CAT 308E2CR 450mm rubber block pads, blade, offset, A/C; £34,000, 2017 Hitachi ZX85USB-5A 450mm rubber block pads, blade, offset, piped, A/C; £29,500, 2017 Yanmar VIO80-1A rubber tracks, blade, offset, CV, QH, piped, aux piped; £33,000, 2015 Kobelco SK85MSR-3E rubber tracks, blade, offset, CV, QH, piped, A/C; £35,000, 2016 CAT 308E2CR rubber tracks, blade, offset, CV, QH, piped, aux. piping; £37,000, 2018 Kubota KX080-4 rubber tracks, blade, offset, CV, QH, piped, aux piping.

Excavator 10t – £72,000, 2020 Doosan DX140LC 600mm pads, blade, CV, piped, reverse camera, A/C.

Telehandlers – £35,500, 2017 JCB 540-140 Hi Viz turbo powershift telehandler, sway, reverse camera; £22,000 – 2008 JCB 535-140 turbo powershift telehandler, sway, WLI; £28,000,2014 Manitou MT1335 turbo telehandler, joystick controls, sway, WLI, forks; £27,000, 2015 JCB 535-125 Hi Viz turbo powershift telehandler, reverse camera, forks.