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Dredging Services in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Anthony Kelly Anthony Kelly Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: May 2024 ANZSIC OD5081

Revenue

$423.1m

2024-25

$350.9m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

496

Businesses

52

Wages

$XX.Xm

Dredging Services in Australia industry analysis

The performance of the Dredging Services industry oscillates between boom and bust, reflecting the start-up and completion of large-scale capital dredging to deepen and widen ports and harbours. Investment in dredging services is principally funded by governments and public authorities to maintain navigational channels, to create new harbour infrastructure, for environmental restoration and land reclamation. Investment in dredging services supports Australia’s international trade and mainly, to accommodate larger shipping fleets for mining exports. Trends in mining output and capital expenditure by mining companies represent essential drivers of large-scale dredging activity.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry’s performance has fallen from the peak in capital dredging activity before the outbreak of COVID-19. Still, the performance has fluctuated widely, including the recent surge associated with the channel widening in the Port of Townsville.
  • Subdued investment trends in mining and traditional energy projects point to the contraction in capital dredging of ports for resource exports. The market will wane with the completion of the channel widening component of the Port of Townsville upgrade project.
  • Queensland and Western Australia have many bulk ports and are over-represented in their share of dredging companies. These states require ports to serve the high volume of agricultural and resource commodity exports.
  • Competition on complex dredging projects tends to be confined to preferred tender applicants with demonstrated capabilities. Contractors must have a proven track record of delivering projects while meeting strict environmental standards.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $423.1m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Dredging activity at depths far from the peak of the mining boom

  • Wide annual fluctuations have distinguished the performance of the Dredging Services industry through 2023-24, reflecting the absence of significant capital dredging projects before the channel upgrade stage of the Port of Townsville PEP project spanning from 2021 to 2023.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Dredging Services in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Dredging services to be confined to smaller projects and maintenance work

  • In the absence of significant capital dredging projects and the aftermath of the completion of the channel widening in the Port of Townsville, the industry’s performance through 2028-29 will be driven by maintenance dredging and small-scale projects for local authorities, government agencies and property developers.

Biggest companies in the Dredging Services in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Hall Holdco
116.2
Boskalis Australia
26.7
Dredging International (Australia)
15.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Dredging Services in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Capital dredging services, Maintenance dredging services and Energy dredging services. Capital dredging services is the largest segment of the Dredging Services in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Maintenance dredging sets the foundation for industry activity

  • Dredging companies must occasionally clear ports, channels, rivers and creeks that have built up silt and sediment to allow container ships and other vessels to continue travelling through these areas.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry companies provide sea, ocean and river dredging services, which include deepening and widening existing port operations and moving deepwater sediment to keep waterways open for commerce.

What's included in this industry?

Capital dredging servicesMaintenance dredging servicesEnergy dredging servicesUrban dredging (dams, tunnels and other infrastructure) servicesMine tailings dredging services Other de-silting servicesDredging consultancy services

Companies

Hall HoldcoBoskalis AustraliaDredging International (Australia)

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CAPITAL DREDGINGMAINTENANCE DREDGINGMINE TAILINGS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 3109 - Dredging Services in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry’s performance has fallen from the peak in capital dredging activity before the outbreak of COVID-19. Still, the performance has fluctuated widely, including the ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Subdued investment trends in mining and traditional energy projects point to the contraction in capital dredging of ports for resource exports. The market will wane with the ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Queensland and Western Australia have many bulk ports and are over-represented in their share of dredging companies. These states require ports to serve the high volume of ag...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition on complex dredging projects tends to be confined to preferred tender applicants with demonstrated capabilities. Contractors must have a proven track record of de...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Many small-scale contractors work on minor dredging projects or maintenance contracts. The completion of major LNG projects left many companies dormant or surviving on minor ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Hall Holdco's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Boskalis Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Dredging International (Australia)'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Hall Holdco, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Boskalis Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Dredging International (Australia), and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Dredging contractors may derive industry assistance from membership of the International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) and the World Dredging Association (WODA). T...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Crude oil prices and freight costs have surged. The rising diesel fuel prices have pushed up the cost of operating dredging vessels.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Dredging Services industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Dredging Services industry in Australia is $423.1m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Dredging Services in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 52 businesses in the Dredging Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Dredging Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Dredging Services industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Dredging Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Dredging Services industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Dredging Services market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Dredging Services market in Australia are Hall Holdco, Boskalis Australia and Dredging International (Australia)

What does the Dredging Services in Australia include?

Capital dredging services and Maintenance dredging services are part of the Dredging Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Dredging Services in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Hall Holdco.

How competitive is the Dredging Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Dredging Services industry in Australia.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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International industries

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.