China's excavator exports surge 33% in first half as industry pivots to electric power

Beijing [China], July 8: Exports of China-made excavators and other heavy machinery saw robust growth in the first half of 2026, with their overseas dominance set to be further entrenched amid electrification and intelligence trends, according to an industrial association.
In June, exports of various types of excavators totalled 14,547 units, surging 36 per cent year on year. For the first half of the year, total exports grew 33.5 per cent to 73,295 units, of which 135 were electric, according to data released on Tuesday by the China Construction Machinery Association (CCMA), based on its survey of major manufacturers.
Excavators represent the largest and most lucrative segment of construction machinery. Chinese-made machines have long been deployed at jobsites around the globe, especially in Global South countries.
Chinese brands like Sany Heavy Industry, Zoomlion and XCMG have been steadily eroding the market share of international giants such as Hitachi, Komatsu and Caterpillar, according to the benchmark KHL Group "Yellow Table", which ranks the world's top construction equipment manufacturers by sales. KHL found there was already a 50-50 split in unit shipments to domestic and overseas customers for the Chinese brands.
The Chinese companies may capture further market share abroad, said CCMA, amid the global transition to electricity and battery-powered construction equipment and as Chinese producers pivot to tap overseas demand as the prolonged property sector slump weighs on domestic demand.
"Export and sales numbers of electrical machinery remain small, for now, but electrification is a sweeping trend and will help Chinese machinery brands acquire more competitiveness, just as Chinese carmakers have surpassed established Japanese and German auto giants," CCMA president Su Zimeng told a trade fair in Zhejiang this week, according to reports by the Zhejiang Daily.
Notably, China's early mover advantage in heavy duty battery technology and supply chains will give its construction machinery industry an edge when Europe and other Western markets introduce regulations governing emissions.
Earlier this year, Sany debuted a pure electric excavator with an operating range of up to 10 hours. The units have been sold to Zambia and other African countries where they are integrated with green microgrids and use intelligent functionality for enhanced automation and safety.
Benefits of electric excavators include easy maintenance, lower energy costs, less noise - enabling them to operate for extended hours near residential or noise-sensitive areas - and no tailpipe emissions, allowing operation in enclosed spaces like tunnels and basements.
But Su warned that Chinese producers must address some weak links to seize electrification opportunities, adding that there were still technical bottlenecks and gaps between Chinese products and those from foreign rivals.
"The gap is more pronounced in high-end core components like special transmission components, drive controllers, electrohydraulic control valves, high-precision sensors for intelligent construction and navigation control in complex environments," Su said at the opening of the Zhejiang trade fair.
Source: Qatar Tribune