Marine Auxiliary Engines Market - Size, Share, Industry Trends, and Forecasts (2025-2032)

By Fuel Type:

Based on fuel type, the market is segmented into diesel, gas, others.

Trends in the fuel type:

• Increasing adoption of diesel fuel due to its several benefits including high energy density, increased availability, and others.
• There is a rising trend towards utilization of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a cleaner fuel alternative for auxiliary engine, attributing to its lower emissions, fuel flexibility, and eco-friendliness.

The diesel segment accounted for a largest revenue share of 66.72% in the total marine auxiliary engines market share in 2024.

• Diesel has been used as the traditional fuel for marine auxiliary engines and it is widely used across various types of vessels, including cargo ships, tankers, fishing boats, and naval vessels.
• Diesel engines are favoured for auxiliary operations such as power generation, pumping systems, and other essential functions.
• Moreover, diesel offers a range of benefits including high energy density, increased availability, and reliability, which are primary determinants for increasing its utilization in auxiliary engines.  
• For instance, Weichai is a marine engine manufacturer that offers WP4CD 66 series and WP6CD 132 series of auxiliary diesel engines in its product offerings.
• According to the marine auxiliary engines market analysis, the rising advancements associated with auxiliary diesel engines for application in marine vessels are driving the marine auxiliary engines market growth.

The gas segment is anticipated to register significant CAGR growth during the forecast period.

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is increasingly being utilized as a cleaner fuel alternative for auxiliary engine.
• LNG engines can be deployed in various vessel types, including ferries, container ships, and offshore supply vessels among others.
• Moreover, LNG provides numerous benefits including lower emissions, noise reduction, fuel flexibility, and eco-friendliness.
• For instance, in June 2023, MAN launched its new MAN 35/44DF CD model of auxiliary engine for marine applications. The engine offers fuel flexibility and can utilize both gas as well as biofuels as its fuel source. The engine features compact footprint with high power output.
• Therefore, the increasing innovations related to auxiliary engines with gas as its fuel source are anticipated to boost the marine auxiliary engines market size during the forecast period.

By Power:

Based on power, the market is segmented into up to 500 HP, 500 to 1000 HP, and over 1000 HP.

Trends in the power:

• There is an increasing trend towards adoption of auxiliary engines with power output up to 500 HP in fishing boats, patrol boats, ferries, and smaller commercial vessels.
• Rising adoption of auxiliary engines with power output ranging from 500 to 1000 HP on larger vessels due to its higher load handling capability and enhanced performance

Up to 500 segment accounted for the largest revenue in the overall marine auxiliary engines market share in 2024.

• Auxiliary engines with power output up to 500 HP are often used on smaller marine vessels such as fishing boats, patrol boats, ferries, and smaller commercial vessels.

• Moreover, auxiliary engines with power output up to 500 HP offer a range of benefits including compact design, fuel efficiency, ease of maintenance, and cost-efficiency among others.
• For instance, Deere & Company offers 4045TF285, 6068HF485, 6090HF485 models of auxiliary engines with power output of 99 HP, 251 HP, and 375 HP respectively.
• Therefore, the rising developments associated with auxiliary engines with power output up to 500 HP are driving the marine auxiliary engines market trends.

500 to 1000 HP is anticipated to register a substantial CAGR growth during the forecast period.

• Auxiliary engines with power output ranging from 500 to 1000 HP are primarily used on larger vessels, including medium-sized cargo ships, tankers, offshore support vessels, and naval ships among others.
• Auxiliary engines with power output ranging from 500 to 1000 HP can handle higher loads and provide improved performance, making them ideal for more demanding marine applications.
• For instance, Cummins Inc. offers QSK19 and KTA19 models of auxiliary engines in its product portfolio with power output ranging from 500 to 1000 HP for marine applications.

• Thus, increasing advancements associated with auxiliary engines with power output from 500 to 1000 HP are projected to boost the market during the forecast period.

By Sales Channel:

Based on sales channel, the market is segmented into direct sales and distributor sales.

Trends in the sales channel:

• Factors including the availability of excellent support and warranty, higher product quality, and reliable shipping and return policies are key prospects driving the segmental growth of direct sales channel.
• Factors such as higher accessibility to a variety of products, higher flexibility, and expanded reach are major determinants for driving the distributor sales channel segment.

Direct sales channel segment accounted for a significant revenue in the overall auxiliary engine technology market share in 2024.

• In direct sales channel, auxiliary engines are sold directly to customers through numerous physical outlets including company outlets among others.
• Moreover, the direct sales channel also consists of online mode, wherein the manufacturers sell auxiliary engines through its own company websites.
• Additionally, purchasing auxiliary engines from direct sales channel offers numerous benefits including faster response time, higher product quality, higher return on investments, competitive pricing, and others which are key determinants for increasing the purchase of auxiliary engines from direct sales channel.
• For instance, Caterpillar is an auxiliary engine manufacturer that offers a broad range of auxiliary engines for direct purchase through the company website.
• Therefore, increasing availability of auxiliary engines in direct sales channels are driving the market.

Distributor sales segment is anticipated to register a substantial CAGR growth during the forecast period.

• The distributor sales channel involves indirect distribution of auxiliary engines, wherein the auxiliary engines are purchased from several regional distributors operating multiple regions worldwide.
• Moreover, distributor sales channel provides several benefits including increased market reach, reduced capital expenditure, increased cost efficiency, and others. The above benefits of distributor sales channel are further increasing its utilization for purchase of auxiliary engines.
• For instance, Western States Equipment Company, Seapower Marine Ltd, and others are few of the distributors of auxiliary engines.
• Hence, the increasing availability of auxiliary engines in distributor sales channel is anticipated to boost the market during the forecast period.

By End-User:

Based on the end-use, the market is segmented into commercial vessels and military vessels.

Trends in the end-user:

• Factors including rising maritime trade, growing popularity of cruise ships, and increasing commercial fleet are key trends propelling the commercial vessels segment.
• Rising technological advancements in naval defense systems and increasing government investments in navy defense platform are primary trends driving the military vessels segment.

Commercial vessels segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the total market in 2024.

• This dominance is attributed to the rising adoption of auxiliary engines in commercial ships and boats for supporting a wide variety of functions that ensure the safe and efficient operation of the commercial vessels.
• Auxiliary engines are primarily used to supply electricity to the commercial vessels for lighting, navigation systems, communication equipment, and other electrical requirements.
• For instance, Kenya Shipyard Limited partnered with Damen Shipyards, a Dutch shipbuilding company, for the development of the MV Uhuru II, which is a commercial marine vessel built at Kisumu port in Kenya. The cargo ship entered into service on Lake Victoria in 2023.
• According to the analysis, the rising production of commercial vessels is driving the marine auxiliary engines market trends.

Military vessels segment is anticipated to register a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

• Auxiliary engines play an essential role in military vessels for providing essential support for a wide range of operational and logistical functions.
• Auxiliary engines used to supply electricity for onboard systems, including navigation, communication, surveillance, weapon systems, and lighting.
• Moreover, the integration of auxiliary engines in marine vessels offers several benefits including increased operational reliability, flexibility in operations, and improved operational efficiency among others.
• For instance, the South African Department of Defence invested USD 225.7 million for the development of three ships, among which, the first of three multi-mission inshore marine vessels were delivered to the South African Navy in 2022.
• Therefore, the increasing development of military vessels is expected to drive the demand for auxiliary engines, in turn propelling the market during the forecast period.