Statistics from China Construction Machinery Industry Association show that in February 2023, 26 excavator manufacturers sold 21,450 excavators of various types, a year-on-year decrease of 12.4%, of which 9,958 were exported, a year-on-year increase of 34%. Double-digit rapid growth, and the export sales of excavators in the first two months also exceeded domestic sales.

The hot export of excavators is the epitome of business opportunities under the pressure of China's foreign trade. In the field of machinery manufacturing with significant advantages in industrial chain integration, Made in China is also gaining more space in the global trade market by virtue of its higher cost performance.

Behind the shortage

Although the excavator market showed a significant recovery trend at the beginning of this year, the specific trends and motivations of medium and large excavators and small and micro excavators are quite different due to their different uses. Among them, medium and large excavators are mainly used in municipal engineering or mining and other scenarios, while small and micro excavators are mostly used for household or agricultural use.

Taking SINOMACH as an example, Gao Lei said that in 2020 and 2021, when foreign trade is generally rising, the company's exports have declined compared with before the epidemic, and in 2022, when the pressure of external demand contraction is high, the company's exports have increased by 30% year-on-year.~ 40%, in the first quarter of this year, the company's overall exports surged by 70%~ 80% year-on-year. The motivation behind it, on the one hand, is that overseas infrastructure building has been restored after the epidemic control has been successively released in 2022, and the relevant budget has also been increased in order to stimulate the economy; on the other hand, they have taken the initiative to go overseas to develop the market since the end of last year, and also let the sales channels The force ushered in a bigger outbreak at the beginning of this year.