Argentina Tower Crane Rental Market Overview, 2030

Argentina’s tower crane rental market has developed gradually in response to the country’s urban growth and commercial construction rebound, especially in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Rosario. The market is dominated by standalone rental firms, although some large local construction companies still manage small in-house fleets for repeat projects. Global tower crane manufacturers like Liebherr, Potain (Manitowoc), Comansa, Zoomlion, and Sany are present in Argentina primarily through authorized dealers or regional sales offices. These dealers facilitate new crane sales, provide spare parts, and offer technical support. Rental companies often acquire their fleets from these dealers. Renting has become increasingly attractive due to cost flexibility, reduced administrative burden, and access to certified operators and technical teams. Full-service rental models are the norm in Argentina, offering cranes with operator, setup, dismantling, insurance, and periodic maintenance bundled into monthly rates. However, some contractors still opt for dry rentals, especially on familiar job sites where internal teams can manage operations. The rental process typically follows a manual, offline structure cranes are delivered to site, assembled with third-party rigging crews, used for the project cycle, and dismantled at completion. Flat-top cranes dominate usage across high-rise residential and commercial buildings, while luffing jib models are reserved for tight, vertical job sites. Infrastructure and public projects when active drive demand for heavier models. For ongoing operations, large mining companies or oil & gas firms might own some heavy lifting equipment. However, for project expansions, new plant construction, or highly specialized tasks like Vaca Muerta shale exploration in Neuquén, they rely heavily on specialized crane rentals. YPF's planned US$35.7 billion capex for 2025-30, focusing on shale oil and LNG exports, including the Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline and terminal project, will require extensive construction and heavy lifting support. The Eni and YPF agreement in June 2025 for the large-scale Argentina LNG (ARGLNG) project, aiming for 30 million tons of LNG annually by 2030, further underscores this demand.

According to the research report ""Argentina Tower Crane Rental Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Argentina Tower Crane Rental market was valued at more than USD 100 Million in 2025. This market is driven by cost efficiency, limited crane imports, and increasing demand across mid-rise and infrastructure projects. Rental contracts typically include base monthly rent, transport to site, rigging, operator wages, and optional insurance coverage. Major public works and transport infrastructure projects like the Santa Fe government's ARS 400 billion public project tenders for 2025 or planned national highway privatizations require a diverse range of tower cranes, often with high capacities, over extended periods. It allows contractors to scale equipment needs, manage project-specific requirements, and avoid massive investments in specialized equipment for singular projects. Transport logistics remain a challenge, especially in Buenos Aires and Rosario, where tight urban streets, permit restrictions, and limited crane laydown areas complicate mobilization. On average, site delivery and assembly require 4 to 6 days and involve multi-truck hauls. Tower crane setup and dismantling is managed by specialized third-party teams, though delays are common due to city-specific approvals or poor access conditions. Argentina has ambitious goals to increase the share of renewable energy in its total energy mix to 57% by 2030. This is fueling projects like the 200 MW solar project in Mendoza by Verano Energy, due for completion by the end of 2025, and a tender for 500MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Buenos Aires launched in February 2025. These large-scale energy projects are major drivers for high-capacity and specialized tower cranes.

In Argentina’s tower crane rental market, domestic rental companies and regional suppliers play a vital role in servicing the construction industry, which includes a mix of urban high-rise projects in Buenos Aires and infrastructure developments throughout the country. While international brands like Liebherr, Potain, and Comansa are widely used, local firms also supply and rent tower cranes adapted to Argentina’s specific site conditions and regulatory environment. Hammerhead (Flat Top) cranes are the most common choice for mid- to high-rise construction in cities like Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Rosario, valued for their ability to operate efficiently in multi-crane zones on congested sites. Models such as the Liebherr 200 EC-B and Potain MDT 219 are popular, with rental rates typically ranging from ARS 500,000 to ARS 900,000 per month, including operator and erection services. Luffing Jib Cranes are favored for projects in tight urban spaces or where overhead clearance is restricted, such as in central Buenos Aires and other dense neighborhoods, these cranes offer vertical jib movement to prevent collisions, but come at higher rental costs generally between ARS 800,000 and ARS 1,200,000 monthly, often including specialized operators and rigging crews. Self-erecting cranes have a smaller market share, mainly serving small-scale projects, industrial sites, and suburban construction, with rental prices ranging from ARS 300,000 to ARS 500,000 per month. Argentine rental companies emphasize compliance with national safety standards regulated by the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT), providing comprehensive rental packages that include operator training, maintenance, and support services. The market is gradually incorporating digital monitoring and fleet management technologies to improve crane utilization, safety, and operational efficiency. Argentina’s tower crane rental sector remains influenced by economic fluctuations but continues to evolve alongside urban growth and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

Low-capacity cranes, up to 5 tons, are widely used in small residential buildings, renovation works, and light commercial projects, especially in densely populated cities like Buenos Aires, where limited space and tight site conditions require compact, easy-to-move cranes that can be quickly assembled and dismantled. These cranes are preferred for their efficiency in handling lighter loads in confined urban environments. Medium-capacity cranes ranging from 5 to 20 tons constitute the bulk of the rental market, supporting mid-rise residential developments, commercial buildings, infrastructure improvements such as roads and public facilities, and industrial construction. This segment offers a good balance between lifting capability and maneuverability, aligning well with Argentina’s ongoing urban growth and modernization efforts. High-capacity cranes above 20 tons are essential for large-scale infrastructure projects, heavy industrial facilities, energy plants, and major public works that demand lifting of heavy steel structures, precast concrete elements, and machinery. While less frequently rented due to their higher operational costs and logistical complexities, these cranes are critical for complex, long-term projects with substantial lifting requirements. Rental companies in Argentina maintain diversified fleets to cater to varying regional demands and project types, increasingly incorporating modern safety standards and equipment upgrades to improve efficiency and comply with regulatory frameworks.

The Argentina tower crane rental market is primarily driven by the construction and infrastructure sector, encompassing residential, commercial, and industrial building projects, as well as transportation infrastructure such as highways, bridges, and expanding metro rail networks in major urban centers. Flat-top cranes with lifting capacities typically between 5 and 20 tons are commonly used across these construction sites, while luffing jib cranes are preferred in dense urban areas with limited space, and self-erecting cranes are utilized for smaller residential and low-rise developments. Rental durations in this sector generally range from short to medium term, reflecting project timelines and the cyclical nature of construction activity. The energy and power sector also contributes significantly, fueled by Argentina’s investments in renewable energy projects such as wind farms and hydroelectric power plants, along with upgrades to thermal power stations and electrical transmission infrastructure. This segment requires high-capacity flat-top and luffing jib cranes, often crawler-mounted for mobility across rugged terrain, with lifting capacities typically between 20 and 60 tons. Rentals in this sector tend to be long-term and often include operator services due to the technical complexity of installations. The oil and gas industry is an important end user, relying on tower cranes for refinery construction, offshore platform assembly, LNG terminals, and heavy fabrication yards. This sector typically employs heavy-duty luffing jib and flat-top cranes capable of lifting loads over 30 tons, with rentals customized to meet strict safety and operational standards. The mining and heavy industries sector uses large flat-top and crawler cranes with lifting capacities between 20 and 50 tons to support steel manufacturing, cement production, and mineral extraction activities. This sector often favors long-term rentals or capital investment due to ongoing operational demands. Other end-use industries include ports and shipyards where large flat-top cranes above 30 tons facilitate shipbuilding and cargo handling, aerospace and defense projects requiring precise luffing jib cranes for aircraft hangars and missile silo construction, and temporary event infrastructure where flat-top and mobile tower cranes assist in large-scale stadium roof lifts and major event setups.

In the Argentine tower crane rental market, short-term rentals typically range from one day to three months and are most often used for smaller construction projects such as residential developments, low-rise commercial buildings, and temporary lifting during site setup or dismantling. The cranes commonly rented in this category include self-erecting cranes and small flat-top models with lifting capacities generally up to 5 tons. Rental prices for short-term tower cranes in Argentina usually range from AR$30,000 to AR$90,000 per day, AR$150,000 to AR$500,000 per week, and AR$600,000 to AR$1.5 million per month, with most contracts including operator services, insurance, and permits. Long-term rentals, which span from three months to several years, are typically used for larger infrastructure projects such as high-rise buildings, bridges, highways, and industrial plants. These long-term contracts provide access to flat-top cranes with capacities from 5 to 20 tons, luffing jib cranes suited for dense urban areas, and heavy-duty cranes with capacities exceeding 20 tons. Monthly rental rates for long-term agreements in Argentina generally range from AR$1.5 million to AR$4 million for medium-capacity cranes and AR$4 million to AR$8 million for heavy-duty cranes, with many contracts including operator services, maintenance, and rigging. Lease-to-own agreements, usually lasting from one to three years, are becoming increasingly popular among mid-sized contractors and construction firms that wish to eventually own the crane while avoiding the full upfront cost. Monthly payments for lease-to-own arrangements in Argentina typically range from AR$500,000 to AR$2 million, with buyout costs ranging from AR$3 million to AR$8 million. While this option provides contractors with access to mid and high-capacity cranes, the total cost of leasing over the term may exceed the cost of outright purchase, and early termination often incurs penalties.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Tower Crane Rental Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type of Tower Crane
• Hammerhead (Flat Top) Cranes
• Luffing Jib Cranes
• Self-Erecting Cranes
• Mobile Tower Cranes

By Lifting Capacity
• Low Capacity (Up to 5 Tons)
• Medium Capacity (5–20 Tons)
• High Capacity (Above 20 Tons)

By End-Use Industry
• Construction & Infrastructure
• Energy & Power
• Oil & Gas
• Mining & Heavy Industries
• Others End User Industries

By Rental Type / Duration
• Short-Term Rental
• Long-Term Rental
• Lease-to-Own Show more