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Water utilities in Europe: what they buy and who supplies them

Buyers declaring "Water-related activities" as their main activity, across the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The market in numbers

Public supply contracts in Europe: award notices published on TED from 2023-11 to 2026-11, by publication year.

Contracts awarded
5.9K
in 2.9K award notices
Awarded value
€4.1B
from 75% of awards with a published value
Suppliers
2K
with at least one award
Public buyers
486
in this sector
Contracts awarded by year
Contracts awarded by yearNov–Dec 2023: 4747Nov–Dec 20232024: 1,6751,67520242025: 2,1412,14120252026: 2,0802,0802026
Table view
Contracts awarded by year
Nov–Dec 202347
20241,675
20252,141
20262,080
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Awarded value by year (EUR)Nov–Dec 2023: €15.3M€15.3MNov–Dec 20232024: €1.3B€1.3B20242025: €1.4B€1.4B20252026: €1.4B€1.4B2026
Table view
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Nov–Dec 2023€15.3M
2024€1.3B
2025€1.4B
2026€1.4B
What they buy: contracts by product category
  1. Construction materials and associated items1,405
    Construction materials and associated items: 1,405
  2. Machinery for the production and use of mechanical power584
    Machinery for the production and use of mechanical power: 584
  3. Instruments for checking physical characteristics545
    Instruments for checking physical characteristics: 545
  4. Motor vehicles482
    Motor vehicles: 482
  5. Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy437
    Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy: 437
  6. Fine and various chemical products370
    Fine and various chemical products: 370
  7. Basic inorganic and organic chemicals363
    Basic inorganic and organic chemicals: 363
  8. Fuels259
    Fuels: 259
  9. Other3,415
    Other: 3,415
Table view
What they buy: contracts by product category
Construction materials and associated items1,405
Machinery for the production and use of mechanical power584
Instruments for checking physical characteristics545
Motor vehicles482
Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy437
Fine and various chemical products370
Basic inorganic and organic chemicals363
Fuels259
Other3,415
Contracts by buyer country
  1. Romania803
    115 companies
    Romania: 803
  2. Slovakia652
    67 companies
    Slovakia: 652
  3. France609
    305 companies
    France: 609
  4. Bulgaria581
    184 companies
    Bulgaria: 581
  5. Spain536
    249 companies
    Spain: 536
  6. Italy383
    194 companies
    Italy: 383
  7. Hungary351
    68 companies
    Hungary: 351
  8. Sweden260
    184 companies
    Sweden: 260
  9. Poland248
    110 companies
    Poland: 248
  10. Germany240
    118 companies
    Germany: 240
Table view
Contracts by buyer country
Romania803
Slovakia652
France609
Bulgaria581
Spain536
Italy383
Hungary351
Sweden260
Poland248
Germany240
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice: Large companies 19.8%, Medium-sized 15.6%, Small 19.3%, Micro 2.7%, SME (size not stated) 21.3%, Size not stated 21.3%Large companies: 1,175 (19.8%)20%Medium-sized: 927 (15.6%)16%Small: 1,149 (19.3%)19%Micro: 161 (2.7%)SME (size not stated): 1,265 (21.3%)21%Size not stated: 1,266 (21.3%)21%
  • Large companies
  • Medium-sized
  • Small
  • Micro
  • SME (size not stated)
  • Size not stated
Table view
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Large companies1,175 · 19.8%
Medium-sized927 · 15.6%
Small1,149 · 19.3%
Micro161 · 2.7%
SME (size not stated)1,265 · 21.3%
Size not stated1,266 · 21.3%
Foreign winners: where they are registered
  1. Finland19
    Finland: 19
  2. Germany6
    Germany: 6
  3. Netherlands6
    Netherlands: 6
  4. Lithuania5
    Lithuania: 5
  5. France5
    France: 5
  6. Hungary3
    Hungary: 3
Table view
Foreign winners: where they are registered
Finland19
Germany6
Netherlands6
Lithuania5
France5
Hungary3

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country

98.9%

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country: 98.9%

66 awards went to companies registered elsewhere.

Share of the 5 biggest winners

12.5%

Share of the 5 biggest winners: 12.5%

Of all awards; a high share means a concentrated market.

Lots with a single bid

31.2%

Lots with a single bid: 31.2%

Among 5.6K awards whose notice states the number of tenders.

How we count: one award per procedure, lot and winning company, from live contract award notices; a joint procurement counts on every buyer's market. Values are the awarded amounts published in the notice (framework ceilings and estimates are never added), converted to euro at the ECB yearly average. Company size is the SME flag of the notice (eForms BT-165). Read the methodology.

Questions

What do water utilities in Europe buy through public tenders?
Mostly construction materials and associated items (1,405 awards), machinery for the production and use of mechanical power (584 awards), instruments for checking physical characteristics (545 awards) — 5,943 supply contracts in total since November 2023.
How much is it worth?
The 4,480 awards with a published value add up to €4.1B; the rest are framework ceilings or undisclosed amounts, which we never add.

All sectors in Europe · Europe by product category

Source: contract award notices on TED — Tenders Electronic Daily (ted.europa.eu), © European Union, published since November 2023; processed by Cresques. Numbers updated 2026-11-13.