Air Starters Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth & Forecast 2034

Air Starters Market: Industry Perspective

The global air starters market size was worth around USD 400.32 million in 2024 and is predicted to grow to around USD 848.39 million by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 7.80% between 2025 and 2034.

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Air Starters Market: Overview

Air starters are popular mechanical devices used for cranking and starting engines. The devices rely on compressed air as a source of energy instead of batteries or electricity. The latter solutions may sometimes fail to generate enough energy to start large engines. According to industry research, air starters have higher applications in powering large gas turbine or diesel engines. The popularity of air starters is influenced by the durability of the devices, even in extremely harsh conditions. They primarily apply in environments that have restricted access to electricity, and battery sources may be deemed unreliable. Air starters direct compressed air into a vane motor or turbine located in the starter. The force of the air then causes the motor to spin rapidly.

The energy generated from the spinning motion is then transferred to the flywheel of the engine, allowing it to crank and start operating. The demand for air starters is expected to grow during the forecast period due to rising end-user applications across major industries. For instance, air starters are highly used in oil & gas, marine, and mining industries. In the coming years, marine. However, the high cost of the technology and operational complexities may inhibit the industry’s expansion trends in the future.

Key Insights:

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global air starters market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 7.80% over the forecast period (2025-2034)
• In terms of revenue, the global air starters market size was valued at around USD 400.32 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 848.39 million by 2034.
• The air starters market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the rising applications in the growing marine sector.
• Based on the type, the vane air starters segment is growing at a high rate and will continue to dominate the global market as per industry projections.
• Based on the end-user, the oil & gas segment is anticipated to command the largest market share.
• Based on region, North America is projected to dominate the global market during the forecast period.

Air Starters Market: Growth Drivers

Will rising applications in a growing marine sector propel the air starters industry demand during the forecast period?

The global air starters market is expected to be driven by the growing applications of the device in the marine industry worldwide. According to industry analysis, air starters are highly preferred in the marine sector due to the machine’s ability to start engines in harsh weather conditions. Air starters are seemingly deployed in large marine vessels such as tankers and cargo ships. Larger marine vehicles are mainly powered by medium or low-speed diesel engines and require higher starting torque to operate. In addition to this, air starters do not pose significant risks while operating, unlike electricity-powered devices, which are prone to flammable sparks.

Furthermore, the compact structure of air starters reduces significant weight and limits the space required on board cargo ships. The rising rate of global goods transportation through marine channels is propelling the number of cargo ships used worldwide, further creating demand for air starters.

In December 2024, China announced the successful trial completion of a 58,000-tonne self-propelled cargo ship, marking a significant benchmark in the global shipping industry. Increasing global trade and the rising development of new marine channels for smoother goods & commodities transportation are likely to contribute to growing revenue in the air starters industry.

Increasing the launch of new and improved devices in the market to generate growth opportunities

Air starters technology is rapidly evolving, with market players investing in innovation-led strategies for future growth. Air starter manufacturers are working on improved machinery reliability, overall performance, and safety & maintenance features. In addition to this, enhancing device efficiency will remain a primary area of focus for the market players in the coming years.

In May 2025, Austart, an Austrian company specializing in the production of next-generation air starters, announced the launch of the all-new ATS87 model. It is a marine-focused and highly robust model equipped with I-R SS150-BMPD starters.

According to the company's claims, the machine is built to be used in extreme conditions and delivers maximized value. Furthermore, the global air starters market can also benefit from the increasing integration of next-generation technologies such as smart sensors, Internet-of-Things (IoT) features, and predictive maintenance technologies that may open new avenues for further growth in the market.

Air Starters Market: Restraints

Does the high cost of air starters and operational complexities limit the air starters market growth trends?

The global air starters industry is expected to be restricted due to the high cost of the devices. Installation of air starters requires significant upfront investment. In addition to this, operational complexities related to air starters may further discourage the use of the technology among potential end-users. Air starters require highly compressed air for proper functioning, with air compression ranging between 80 and 150 psi.

Furthermore, the devices must be well-maintained throughout their lifetime to ensure smooth operations over the years. These factors may affect the market adoption rate in the future.

Air Starters Market: Opportunities

How will expansion in the oil & gas sector, especially offshore facilities, create growth opportunities for the air starters industry?

The global air starters market is expected to generate growth opportunities due to the rising expansion of machinery in the thriving oil & gas sector. Air starters are widely used across major offshore oil rigs due to several advantages associated with the energy-generating device as compared to other alternatives in the market. The surge in global demand for reliable oil & gas supply has encouraged oil companies worldwide to improve their business efficiency. The ongoing investments in offshore oil drilling projects will be critical to the growing demand for air starters in the coming years.

Rising focus on using clean energy across end-user segments to generate new avenues for further expansion

Air starters do not rely on electricity to generate power. They are considered more environmentally-friendly solutions for generating high power as compared to electricity-powered starters. Major end-user industries, including oil & gas and marine sectors, are steadily inclining toward machines and equipment powered by clean energy. They are also influenced by changing government guidelines, which further assist with the expansion scope for air starters.

Air Starters Market: Challenges

Competition from substitutes and dynamic legal guidelines to challenge market growth

The global air starters industry is expected to face high competition from alternative solutions in the market. Innovation in terms of improving the performance of battery-based starters may dilute the acceptance of air starters. Additionally, dynamic and evolving regulatory guidelines concerning the use of air starters across industries may further hinder smooth market growth in the coming years.

Air Starters Market: Report Scope

Air Starters Market: Segmentation

The global air starters market is segmented based on type, end-user, and region.

Based on the type, the global market segments are vane air starters and turbine air starters. In 2024, the vane air starters market experienced the highest growth, driven by the ease of use associated with the model. In addition to this, vane air starters tend to enjoy the benefits of a mature segment since vane designs have proven high performance-efficiency in extreme weather conditions. Vane air starters have a typical lifespan of 2,000 – 5,000 hours under ideal conditions.

Based on the end-user, the global market divisions are marine, mining, oil & gas, and others. In 2024, the highest return on investment was registered in the oil & gas sector due to the safety features associated with air starters. Oil & gas companies are at a higher risk of serious accidents, and air starters are considered ideal solutions to be used in vulnerable environments. In 2024, the average capital expenditure in the global oil & gas industry was more than USD 550 billion.

Air Starters Market: Regional Analysis

What factors help North America generate the highest revenue in the air starters market?

The global air starters market is expected to be dominated by North America during the forecast period. The US and Canada will emerge as critical regional market revenue generators. The growing applications of air starters in robust oil & gas and marine sectors in North America will propel regional market expansion.

For instance, Canada and the US are leading investors in the oil & gas sector. Moreover, these regions are increasingly seeking clean energy solutions to be deployed across industries. Air starters, due to their environmental friendliness, are considered ideal for starting large engines used in marine vessels and oil factories.

Asia-Pacific is a growing market with China, India, Japan, and South Korea leading the regional revenue. China is one of the world’s leading contributors to the growing marine industry, especially for goods transportation. China is also expanding its shipping industry services to other emerging economies, especially in Southeast Asian and African nations.

These expansion initiatives will create more demand for air starters in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years. In addition to this, the growing development of robust heavy industries serving a large number of end customers will play a crucial role in shaping the regional industry for air starters.

Air Starters Market: Competitive Analysis

The global air starters market is led by players like:

• Hilliard Corporation
• Ingersoll Rand
• KH Equipment
• Kocsis Technologies
• Bartech Turbos
• Air Starter Components (ASC)
• Maradyne Corporation
• IPU Group
• Aerosila
• TDI (Tech Development Inc.)
• Heishin
• Gali International
• Rotec
• Startmaster
• Powerstart

The global air starters market is segmented as follows:

By Type

• Vane Air Starters
• Turbine Air Starters

By End-User

• Marine
• Mining
• Oil & Gas
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa