The African mining equipment sector is entering a decisive phase. Growth across the continent is not simply expanding opportunity; it is fundamentally raising the performance, scale and efficiency standards required to remain competitive. For mining operators, this shift turns equipment strategy into a long-term business decision rather than a routine capital upgrade, writes Mark Peters, business development manager at MMD Mineral Sizing Africa.
Current projections indicate the sector will reach $3.84 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.24% from 2025. Within this broader continental picture, South Africa stands out with particularly strong growth trajectories, its mining equipment market poised to expand from $1.27 billion in 2025 to $1.67 billion by 2030 at a 5.65% CAGR.
The scale and flexibility imperative
Rising demand reflects a critical shift in operational requirements. Mines across southern Africa are moving toward larger scale extraction to remain economically viable in volatile commodity markets. This creates a pressing need for machinery capable of processing higher throughputs without compromising reliability.
Traditional mobile equipment typically maxed out at 600 to 800 tonnes per hour, a ceiling that increasingly constrains operations seeking to optimise production. Advanced mobile crushing and screening systems now push these boundaries significantly, with some units achieving throughputs of 1 000 to 1 500 tonnes per hour depending on material type, crusher settings and end product required.
The MMD Africa and Terex Magna partnership addresses this capacity gap directly, opening up a market segment previously unreachable for miners operating at larger scale with mobile equipment.
African mining operators face unique challenges that their counterparts in more stable jurisdictions rarely encounter. Volatility in the markets, regulatory shifts and infrastructure limitations make permanent installations risky investments. The Terex Magna range of mobile crushing, screening and conveying equipment addresses this directly. Built for scale and designed to meet the demands of high-output operations up to 1 500 tonnes per hour, these systems deliver operational resilience and reduced capital risk in volatile African environments.
Environmental imperatives and technology readiness
Environmental responsibility has become a competitive differentiator in global mining, with African operations increasingly competing for investment on the basis of ESG (environmental, social & governance) credentials. African operators must match European and North American mining standards to attract international capital and maintain export markets.
The Terex Magna range currently includes conventional diesel and now diesel-electric hybrid units, with hybrid options available featuring onboard generators or external electricity supply connections. These hybrid units significantly reduce fuel consumption while supporting operators’ ESG goals, facilitating African operators to compete on par with European and North American environmental standards. The environmental gains extend beyond reduced carbon emissions to encompass lower noise pollution and decreased particulate matter in working environments.
The transition remains pragmatic rather than revolutionary. Diesel-electric units continue serving operations where infrastructure limitations make electrification impractical, while hybrid configurations provide the bridge that makes sense for many operations today.
Future prospects
The projected market growth through 2030 suggests sustained investment in mineral extraction across Africa. Global demand for copper, cobalt, platinum group metals and other critical minerals shows no sign of decreasing. The energy transition requires enormous quantities of these materials, much of which will come from African sources.
As African mining matures, equipment selection represents one of the most significant factors determining competitive advantage. The machinery and mineral sizing technology deployed today will shape mining outcomes well into the next decade.