Analysis of February indicators in the segment of semi-trailer tractors indicates a systemic decrease in activity. The total number of registrations amounted to 1152 units, which confirms the negative trend: the market for long-distance logistics is shrinking. Despite local fluctuations in individual sub-segments, the overall picture does not give grounds for positive forecasts, as key indicators demonstrate a steady decline.
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The main factor behind the negative dynamics was the domestic market, which was formed by only 683 transactions. This is a significant drop of 21.3% compared to January and 25.4% year-on-year. Since domestic resales account for over 60% of the entire tractor market, their reduction by a quarter is decisive. A certain revival in the import of used equipment ( 387 units, +11.2% MM) and new tractors ( 82 units, +32.3% MM) looks like only a local correction. In absolute figures, these additional dozens of machines in no way compensate for the loss of hundreds of transactions on the domestic market. Thus, we record not a redistribution of resources, but a general decrease in the volumes of the commercial sector.
Domestic market
The domestic market is dominated by the "Big Seven" and the structure of preferences remains predictable. The main choice of Ukrainian carriers is Dutch and German tractors, which are valued for their balanced cost of ownership and developed service network. The segment leaders maintain a significant gap from their competitors, which indicates the formation of mono-brand fleets in many transport companies.
A notable feature remains the presence in the list of popular models of French tractors of older generations, which are gradually moving into the category of equipment for local transportation. At the same time, there is a strengthening of the positions of Swedish brands, which increasingly appear in resale reports in the segment of middle-aged equipment. In general, the domestic market now plays the role of a platform for the redistribution of the resource already available in the country, which is gradually being replaced by fresher imports.
Import of used tractors
The segment of “freshly imported” tractors from Europe is clearly focused on international transportation. It is here that we see the most modern versions of popular trunk models. The leadership in this sector is won by the German brand, whose flagship models became the most popular choice for fleet renewal in February. Dutch technology traditionally breathes in the back of the leader, maintaining the status of the most versatile solution.
Swedish manufacturers firmly hold the middle part of the import rating, offering equipment with a high residual resource, which is important for working on long delivery shoulders. It is characteristic that Ukrainian carriers almost completely ignore budget alternatives, preferring time-tested European designs with high environmental standards, which allows them to work without hindrance in EU countries.
New equipment market
The 32% growth in the new tractor segment in a month is the most important indicator of the health of the logistics sector. The Swedish manufacturer has emerged as the leader, whose flagship models have become the basis of the February renewal of the fleets of large operators. German and French brands also demonstrate stable sales, offering the latest series of equipment with improved aerodynamics and digital control systems.
An interesting nuance of the February statistics was the replenishment of the Ukrainian fleet with single copies of Chinese heavy equipment, which indicates a point-by-point attempt by business to test alternative sources of supply. Also, the list of new cars included premium versions of European tractors with cabins of increased volume, which confirms the demand for high comfort for drivers on long routes. The positive annual dynamics in this segment indicates that big business sees prospects in the development of export-import operations.
Conclusion
Analysis of the tractor unit market in February 2026 indicates a change in the consumption model: from simple maintenance of the fleet within the country to active import of fresh and new equipment. The decline in domestic resales by 25% while the simultaneous growth of new imports by 9% indicates that carriers are betting on efficiency and compliance with international requirements. The market is becoming more professional, focusing on a high resource of equipment and minimizing downtime, which is key for the stable operation of Ukrainian logistics.
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