China's excavator exports surge 30.4 pct in first 9 months

(ECNS) — China exported nearly 110,000 excavators in the first three quartersnine months of 2026, up 30.4% year on year from a year earlier, accounting for 51.2% of the country'scountry’s total excavator sales during the period, according to Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Growing demand for infrastructure construction and mining equipment in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa has driven the increase, while Chinese manufacturers have strengthened their competitiveness through reliable products, faster delivery and advances in electrification and intelligent technologies.

In Kyrgyzstan's mountainous Batken region, LiuGong excavators have operated for months at an altitude of around 4,000 meters despite freezing temperatures and challenging terrain.

At the Moatize coal mine in Mozambique, 10 fully electric excavators manufactured by XCMG, each weighing 130 metric tons, are operating with power supplied through cables connected to the mine's electricity system.

Yang Yang, XCMG's country manager in Mozambique, said rising diesel prices have encouraged the mine operator to replace diesel-powered excavators with electric alternatives. The machines also feature intelligent monitoring and early fault warning systems to help reduce operating costs.

Chinese manufacturers are expanding their electric machinery businesses. In the first seven months of 2026, the export value of XCMG's electric excavators surged 243% from a year earlier, while SANY secured an order for 200 new-energy electric excavators in Southeast Asia.

Smaller excavators are also gaining ground in overseas markets. Shandong Rippa Machinery Group Co., Ltd., based in Jining, Shandong Province, exported about 25,000 mini excavators in the first nine months, with European and U.S. markets accounting for 75% of the total.

Chinese construction machinery companies are also strengthening their overseas manufacturing and service networks.

Zoomlion has established more than 10 overseas manufacturing bases, including facilities in Germany, Hungary and Brazil, alongside more than 530 service outlets worldwide.

SANY directly employs more than 1,000 people in Africa, many of whom have received training in equipment operation and maintenance.

The company's overseas operations have delivered strong results. International revenue accounted for more than 60% of SANY's total revenue in the first half of 2026, with its African business growing 47.66%. 

LiuGong reported a 22.66% increase in overseas revenue from a year earlier in the same period, with sales in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region both rising by more than 30%.

(By intern Alvin & Helen Mo)