Liebherr mobile harbour cranes secured the majority of global new orders in 2025, achieving a record market share.
The figures indicate sustained demand from terminal operators for established mobile harbour crane solutions, particularly as ports diversify cargo mixes without expanding fixed infrastructure.
Heavy-lift units remained central to procurement decisions, reflecting continued growth in steel, project cargo and oversized shipments.
Electric drive configurations gained further ground, cited for reducing local emissions while maintaining operational output.
Portal slewing cranes also featured in bulk operations where berth efficiency and cycle consistency were priorities. Collectively, these trends shaped a solid forward order book extending into 2026.
Andreas Ritschel, General Manager Sales Mobile Harbour Cranes at Liebherr-Rostock GmbH, said: “As leading manufacturer of heavy-duty mobile harbour cranes, we design our cranes to deliver strength, precision and longevity, whether through advanced electric drive concepts, highly responsive control systems or structurally robust designs.
“Models such as the LHM 800 combine class leading lifting power with designs proven over years of operation and customer feedback, delivering high availability and long service life under demanding duty cycles. So terminals gain measurable efficiency without trading off reliability or operating hours.”
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Liebherr highlighted that the demand patterns in 2025 reflected two operational priorities: lifting capacity and energy strategy.
Electric drive specifications increasingly formed part of long-term fleet planning, supported by retrofit pathways and compatibility with varied grid conditions.
At the same time, heavy-lift capability remained essential for terminals managing mixed cargo profiles.
Project deliveries during the year illustrate this positioning. At DP World Constanța in Romania, electric mobile harbour cranes were deployed for combined container and heavy-lift handling.
In Türkiye, an electrically driven LPS portal slewing crane entered service at Nuh Çimento’s port to support bulk throughput.
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In Germany, an LHM 550 was commissioned at BLG LOGISTICS’ Bremerhaven terminal to reinforce heavy-lift capacity.
A notable milestone was the delivery of Liebherr’s 2,000th mobile harbour crane — an LHM 600 supplied to Marcegaglia in Ravenna, Italy. Manufactured in Rostock, the crane marked five decades of production at the site.
With confirmed builds scheduled throughout 2026, Liebherr enters the year with a substantial backlog.
The company is due to publish its latest annual report on 2 April 2026, including detailed financial figures and a review of the past financial year.
For more information:
Liebherr – http://www.liebherr.com/
