Ritchie Bros. conducted its first multi-day auction of 2017 in Houston, TX this week. More than 4,400+ equipment items and trucks were sold in the February 15 – 16 auction for US$42+ million.

The two-day unreserved public auction attracted 5,100+ people from 57 countries to register to bid, including 3,250+ people registering to bid online—both of which are new Houston site records. Approximately 91 percent of the equipment in the auction was sold to U.S. buyers, including 51 percent sold to buyers from Texas, while international buyers purchased 9 percent. Online bidders purchased US$22+ million of equipment (53 percent). 

"We saw record crowds here in Houston this week, including a record number of new bidders on site," said Alan McVicker, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "As a result of the massive crowds we saw strong equipment pricing with incremental increases in pretty much every category compared to our auction in November 2016. It's great to see such positive momentum leading into our massive five-day Orlando auction next week and our two-day Fort Worth auction next month."

Equipment was sold in the auction for 595+ owners—a new site record. Highlights included 260+ truck tractors, 80+ excavators, 75+ skid steers, 50+ cranes, 35+ dozers, 20+ agricultural tractors, 175+ aerial work platforms, 55+ telehandlers, and more.