After four years of decline, 2025 finally brought an increase in new semi-trailer registrations in Poland. The result, which is 10.7% better year-on-year, seems to be a significant rebound, signalling a return to prosperity. However, when compared to pre-pandemic results, it is clear that the 17,334 new semi-trailers registered are still well below pre-2020 levels. Thus, the semi-trailer market has not yet returned to equilibrium and has room for growth. This is interesting because trucks registrations have already reached pre-pandemic levels.
The reason for the slower growth rate of the semi-trailer market is uneven development. The results in 2025 were driven by curtain semi-trailers (+30% y/y), boxes (+47% y/y), isotherms (+28% y/y) and reefers (+30% y/y). On the other hand, municipal and specialised semi-trailers sold much worse: tippers performed 40% worse and tankers 33% worse than in 2024. There is therefore a clear division between the growing market for typical fleet semi-trailers and the struggling market for specialised semi-trailers. In addition, fleets are still not expanding, and purchases are only used to replace existing rolling stock. Another barrier to market growth is the extension of the service life of semi-trailers, which are easy to refurbish and restore to a condition that ensures several more years of operation.
The decline in tanker trailer registrations in 2025 confirms the weak economic situation in this market segment. The fuel industry replaces few semi-trailers. A slight recovery is observed in gas semi-trailers. Problems in the processing industry translate into low sales of chemical and food tankers. The number of orders for silos is also falling. Here, tipping silos are gaining ground at the expense of self-supporting silos, which are considered more versatile.
Other large markets in the European Union are showing mixed results. Germany, the largest market for semi-trailers in the EU, saw a 7.4% decline in registrations, while Spain and Italy recorded increases in registrations of 16.7% and 14.2% year-on-year, respectively. With low sales levels, individual large contracts clearly manipulated the annual results, which was particularly evident in Spain at the end of 2025. As a result, Spain overtook Poland in the annual statistics for the first time in many years.
Used semi-trailers also sold at an uneven pace in 2025. Weeks of increased demand were followed by periods of downtime. The slowly growing demand for new semi-trailers, which extended the waiting time for them, directed the interest of carriers that needed new semi-trailers immediately towards the youngest used ones. In this situation, their values stabilised and the number on the market fell dramatically. Currently, there is a clear shortage of one-year-old and two-year-old semi-trailers, and they are in high demand. Trade is therefore focused on semi-trailers that are around 5 years old and older, which are much more available. Semi-trailers that are 10 years old and older are mainly exported, which is limited due to sanctions against Russia. Therefore, their value has fallen significantly. In addition, problems with their resale are blocking natural replacement, which also limits the sale of new semi-trailers. Hence the development of services to refurbish semi-trailers and extend their service life in fleets. Currently, curtain-siders are selling well and maintaining their market value, although demand is clearly fluctuating. Interest in reefers is slightly lower, which is also reflected in prices, which are falling noticeably. An interesting phenomenon is the increase in interest in boxes, which until now have been used mainly by the courier industry. Container chassis semi-trailers are selling poorly, but their supply is also low. Tippers are experiencing the biggest slump. There is stagnation in both the construction and agricultural industries. Interest in them is minimal, but after earlier large declines in value, their price levels are stabilising. The biggest price movements currently concern the value of cubic tippers, which are being massively discounted by manufacturers. Moving floor semi-trailers are selling poorly, with 10-year-old and older vehicles losing the most value.
The number of used semi-trailers measured by the number of advertisements declined significantly in 2025. The number of offers for curtain-sided semi-trailers (by 38%) and refrigerated semi-trailers (by 23%) fell the most. This means a significant decrease in the supply of used semi-trailers. With demand being volatile and limited, this has a stabilising effect on their market value. However, since the beginning of 2026, there has been a renewed influx of used semi-trailers onto the market.
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