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    Ritchie Bros. sets a strong start to 2026 with a new market-led auction approach
    Ritchie Bros. sets a strong start to 2026 with a new market-led auction approach
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    Ritchie Bros. sets a strong start to 2026 with a new market-led auction approach

    [Maltby, The United Kingdom – 19th of February 2026] – Ritchie Bros., an RB Global company, is starting 2026 from a strong position across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), alongside a series of developments designed to give equipment owners greater flexibility, more selling options and improved access to global demand.
    This year, it’s time to Get More with Ritchie Bros. Following a solid close to 2025, the company enters the year with a more frequent auction calendar across the region, the continued success of off-site auctions, together, these developments reflect how the company is adapting its marketplace to remain closely aligned with customer needs at the start of 2026.
    Across EMEA in Q4 2025, Ritchie Bros. sold 20,200+ industrial lots, representing a 21% increase year on year, supported by 15,200+ bidders, up 15.5% compared with 2024. Activity remained strong across construction, agriculture and transport assets, highlighting both the depth of buyer demand and the scale of Ritchie Bros.’ international marketplace.
    In construction, demand continued to be led by excavators and material-handling equipment, supported by broad cross-border buyer participation. Agricultural auctions saw particularly strong interest in tractors, with bidder numbers increasing by 29.4% year on year, while transport assets, including light vehicles and truck tractors, continued to attract consistent professional buyer demand. Overall buyer participation remained highly international, with Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the UK and the UAE among the most active bidding countries.

    A more frequent auction calendar for 2026

    Building on this performance, Ritchie Bros. has reshaped its auction calendar across EMEA to remain in market more consistently throughout the year. Where customers previously saw around eight auctions in the United Kingdom & Ireland annually, they will now see eleven auctions, with more buying and selling opportunities spread more evenly across each quarter rather than concentrated into short periods.
    This approach shortens the time between sales, allowing sellers to respond more quickly to fleet changes, while giving buyers more regular access to equipment and clearer visibility of upcoming inventory.

    Demand is no longer concentrated around a small number of annual auctions. A more frequent calendar reflects how our customers operate today. It creates more timely and effective exit options for sellers, while buyers benefit from a steadier flow of equipment and better forward visibility. It keeps the marketplace active and responsive throughout the year.

    Ghislaine Duijmelings, General Manager di Ritchie Bros. International

    Ghislaine Duijmelings1280X640.jpg

    Off-site auctions delivering proven results

    Off-site auctions continue to be an established solution for large fleet owners looking to sell equipment directly from their own yards while benefiting from Ritchie Bros.’ international buyer reach.
    In 2025, Ritchie Bros. delivered five off-site auctions in the UK and France, selling 470 lots in total, including 250+ in France and 210+ in the UK. Buyer participation demonstrated a strong mix of regional and international demand, with 79% regional buyers in France and 53% international buyers in the UK, reflecting the combined strength of local inventory and global reach. 
    For some clients, this approach has become the solution that best meets their operational and business needs.

    We needed something fast and straightforward. We didn’t want to spend months answering requests or managing individual negotiations. Ritchie Bros. made it all simple.

    Mathieu & Laurianne Charpentier, owner of an agricultural company in Brittany, France.

    Another key example in Q1 2026 is the Plantforce single-consignor auction in the UK on 21 January, highlighting how these tailored events can combine operational simplicity for sellers with strong buyer engagement. This dedicated auction sold more than 280 used equipment to 740 bidders coming from 48 different countries including the UK, Ireland, USA, Spain & Poland.

    March 2026 auction calendar highlights

    Equipment owners looking to sell in Q1 2026 can contact Ritchie Bros.’ local teams to arrange a free equipment appraisal and discuss the most appropriate selling option. To explore buying opportunities and learn about our upcoming auctions, visit Ritchie Bros.' website.

    About Ritchie Bros.  

    Ritchie Bros., an RB Global, Inc. (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA) company, is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offering auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with weekly featured auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance® equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; and Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit rbauction.com or for more information on RB Global, visit rbglobal.com.