RLB CRANE INDEX®

The previous editions of the RLB Crane Index® have offered valuable insights into Australia’s construction industry. The Index serves as a measure of construction activity and workload, including:

• Monitoring Construction Activity: The Index has consistently tracked the number of cranes on sites, reflecting the level of primarily vertical construction across Australia
• Economic Indicator: By linking crane numbers with construction activity, the Index acts as an economic indicator, used by both government and private sectors
• Regional Insights: The Index provides detailed regional data across key Australian cities, showing how construction activity moves in each area
• Sector Analysis: Differentiating between residential and certain non-residential sectors offers useful insights into trends from crane movements within these industries
• Project Highlights: The Index also showcases major projects in key regions

Since its launch in Q3 2012, the RLB Crane Index® has monitored crane numbers across Australia as a way to gauge construction activity. By offering regional breakdowns and sector analysis, it has established itself as a trusted indicator of workload trends and a key reference for both public and private sector decision- makers.

Australia’s construction industry entered mid-2025 with steady momentum and signs of adjustment. From Q1 to Q3, the national crane count increased from 840 to 845, remaining well above the long-term average of 775. This suggests activity stays at high levels — steady but not surging — while shifting across different regions and asset types.

Regional activity showed a lively reshuffle. Sydney remains the centre of national activity with 370 cranes, a slight dip from 373 in Q1, but still making up 43.8% of all cranes. Melbourne held at 199 cranes (23.6% of the national total), supported by major infrastructure and commercial projects, including the North East Link. Brisbane and the Gold Coast each added eight cranes, emphasising Queensland’s strong growth corridors. Canberra experienced the biggest drop, falling from 22 to 12 cranes as civic and institutional projects were completed. Smaller markets recorded targeted gains — Adelaide (+7), Wollongong (+5), Darwin (+2) — while Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast eased back slightly.

Sectoral trends reinforced these shifts. Residential activity remains dominant, increasing from 484 to 498 cranes and now representing 58.9% of all activity. Mixed-use developments also grew, from 103 to 108 cranes, while data centres rose from 29 to 32, highlighting investment in digital infrastructure. Health and hotel sectors saw modest gains. In contrast, commercial (–12), civic (–6), and aged care (–5) sectors contracted, reflecting the conclusion of earlier project cycles and a shift towards infrastructure and technology-led investment. Civil construction also declined slightly, with four fewer cranes nationwide.