Equipment for the mining industry in Russia in 2024–2025
In 2024-2025, the Russian mining industry is going through a transformation stage: the rising cost of equipment, the shortage of heavy equipment and dependence on supplies from friendly countries stimulate the development of domestic engineering and the introduction of innovations.
Reduced procurement and increased costs
According to a survey of mining, leasing companies and equipment manufacturers conducted by Kommersant, in 2024 and in the first quarter of 2025, purchases of mining equipment for surface and underground work decreased. The reason is an increase in cost by about 30% and an increase in the cost of maintenance, spare parts and fuel. Maxim Agadzhanov, Managing Director of Alfa-Leasing Group of Companies, notes that the number of leasing transactions for medium-tonnage and heavy equipment in 2024 decreased by a third.
The industry is changing its approach to operation: many companies, including Polymetal, Polyus and Seligdar, prefer to work with their own fleet of equipment and reduce the participation of contractors, especially in drilling, excavation and drilling and blasting. Sergey Grishunin, Managing Director of the NRA Rating Service, notes that leasing companies may offer deferrals, no advances or repayment of a large part of the loan in the last place. "But all this is available only to companies with a low level of debt," he concluded.
Now there are about 3.5 thousand units of mining equipment in operation, and the entire market at the end of last year can be estimated at 200 billion rubles, according to the NRA. According to Ilya Makarov, Director of the Corporate Ratings Group at ACRA, up to 10-15% of the fleet is subject to annual replacement. However, due to the extension of the service life and wear and tear of Chinese and Indian equipment, the real need is higher - the costs may amount to $ 2 billion.
China's Dominance and Localization Prospects
In the Russian market, 80-90% of mining equipment is made in China (brands XCMG, Sany, Liugong), according to the NRA. Indian drilling machines are also in demand, but equipment from these countries does not always withstand Russian climatic conditions. Domestic projects are not yet mass-produced: the Cheboksary Aggregate Plant produces modifications of T25, T35, T40 bulldozers, Norilsk Nickel, together with BelAZ, is developing the production of underground machines.
The problem is especially acute with heavy equipment: excavators, bulldozers, drilling rigs, mining dump trucks. As many companies note, "the supply of such equipment through parallel imports is significantly more expensive and longer, and is not accompanied by warranty support and the supply of spare parts." In addition, equipment from friendly countries consists mainly of components that fall under sanctions.
Another difficulty for mining enterprises is the shortage of original spare parts for previously purchased equipment of the companies that left. Russian machine builders, however, are already actively expanding the production of spare parts and heavy equipment, trying to cover domestic needs. For example, companies such as CHETRA are setting up the production of tension wheels for foreign equipment.
An important incentive for the recovery of demand will be the subsidy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for Russian-made wheeled vehicles, which will come into effect in mid-2025. Already at the beginning of the year, according to Agadzhanov, shipments of Russian excavators and bulldozers increased by more than 40-57%.
Innovation and digitalization are key trends
In Russia, the trend towards the digitalization of mining operations is intensifying. Enterprises are increasingly adopting process automation, digital twin systems and intelligent production management solutions. This allows you to plan drilling and blasting operations more accurately, control the displacement of rock mass, reduce downtime and increase the efficiency of equipment operation. In particular, the EVOBLAST group, Instroytechkom and AZOTTECH are working in this direction.
Another important trend is the transition to electrified technology. The demand for electrically powered machines that reduce emissions and fuel costs is gradually increasing. The first models are already being tested at Russian enterprises, and in the future, such solutions can significantly change the structure of the mining equipment fleet, according to the Industrialist of Siberia.
In addition, interest in modular and flexible solutions is gaining momentum. Manufacturers offer equipment that can be quickly adapted to specific tasks and operating conditions. An important area is the so-called plug and play solutions that allow you to speed up the launch of processing or auxiliary production. An example is the development of CFlo World Limited, which offers modular complexes with low energy consumption and a high degree of water saving.
Prospects
Despite the reduction in purchases in 2024 and early 2025, the demand for mining equipment in Russia will grow. The main drivers are:
// Maintaining production plans and the need to replace worn-out fleet,
// state subsidies for domestic equipment,
// further development of import substitution,
// digitalization and automation of mining operations,
// ecologization of production.
According to the NRA, the entire mining equipment market in 2025 will grow by no more than 3%, but this will become the foundation for the long-term development of the industry with an emphasis on localization and technological sovereignty.
MiningWorld Russia is a territory of growth for business
Today, the Russian mining industry is going through a turning point. In such conditions, it is especially important to have a platform where manufacturers and suppliers can communicate directly with key industry players, demonstrate their developments and find new growth points. For many years, this platform has been the International Exhibition of Machinery and Equipment for Mining, Processing and Transportation of Minerals MiningWorld Russia.
The facts speak for themselves: more than 550 participants, 30,000 m2 of exposition and over 10,000 visitors from 82 regions of Russia and 39 countries of the world. At the same time, 60% of visitors to the exhibition plan purchases based on the results of their visit, and 44% have a purchase budget of more than 10 million rubles.
Of particular interest is traditionally equipment for mining (48% of visitors), processing and processing (39%) and transportation (38%) of minerals - areas that today determine the development of the entire industry. Real units of equipment can be seen as part of the special exposition "Territory of Heavy Equipment". In 2025, more than 40 companies presented operating models of equipment, excavators, dump trucks and other wheeled and tracked vehicles.
For companies operating in the mining equipment segment, participation in the exhibition is an investment in the future: in new projects, business sustainability and long-term development.
Book your stand at MiningWorld Russia 2026, which will be held from 22 to 24 April 2026 in Moscow, at the Crocus Expo IEC!