China's construction machinery industry delivered another month of strong performance in June, with excavator exports reaching a new single-month record while domestic demand continued its upward trajectory.
According to data from the China Construction Machinery Association, June 2026 excavator sales reached 25,445 units, up 35.3% year-on-year. Domestic sales contributed 10,898 units, a 33.9% increase, while exports hit 14,547 units, climbing 36.4% and marking the highest monthly export volume on record.
The strong performance was not limited to excavators. Loader sales in June reached 15,002 units, up 24.9% year-on-year, bringing the first-half total to 82,052 units, a 26.7% increase. Export growth continued to outpace domestic sales across both product categories.
Industry analysts attribute the sustained growth to multiple converging factors. The equipment replacement cycle is peaking, with machines from the 2016–2018 sales boom now reaching the end of their economic lifespan. Meanwhile, as the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, 2026 has seen a wave of major infrastructure projects — including the Yarlung Tsangpo River hydropower project, new railway lines, and 300,000 kilometers of rural road construction — pulling substantial equipment orders.
Export markets are proving equally robust. In May alone, excavator export value reached approximately $1.21 billion, up 31.6% year-on-year. Africa and Latin America emerged as the fastest-growing destinations, with export value surging 58% and 81% respectively. Notably, approximately 75% of excavator demand in Africa originates from the mining sector, positioning the continent as a new growth engine for Chinese machinery exports.
The electrification wave is also gaining momentum. Electric loaders accounted for 60.19% of domestic loader sales in June, with 4,215 units sold, reflecting the accelerating shift from diesel to battery-powered equipment. The China Construction Machinery Association projects full-year electric loader sales could exceed 50,000 units in 2026.
With both domestic replacement demand and overseas expansion showing no signs of slowing, the industry appears firmly positioned for continued growth through the second half of the year.
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