Solid Sales Performance Across Key Products
In July 2026, excavator sales reached 19,521 units, up 13.9% year-on-year. Domestic sales contributed 7,608 units, a 4.13% increase, while exports continued to drive growth, reaching 11,913 units — up 21.2%. For the January–July period, cumulative excavator sales hit 171,841 units, a 24.8% increase over the same period last year.
Loaders posted even stronger gains. July loader sales reached 11,774 units, up 30.8% year-on-year. Domestic sales climbed 26.8% to 5,770 units, while exports surged 34.9% to 6,004 units. Year-to-date loader sales totaled 93,826 units, up 27.2%.
Electrification continued to reshape the market landscape. In the first seven months of 2026, electric loaders accounted for 27,424 of domestic sales — over 58% of the domestic loader market. Electric excavators, while still a smaller segment at 227 domestic units, are gradually gaining traction.
AI Data Center Boom Fuels Global Demand
Beyond China's borders, a surprising driver has emerged: the artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout. On August 4, Caterpillar reported second-quarter revenue of $20.54 billion, up 24% year-on-year, with core construction segment revenue jumping 35%. The company's backlog reached a record $72.1 billion.
Caterpillar attributed much of this growth to surging demand from AI data center construction. As tech giants expand their AI infrastructure, massive data centers require extensive site preparation, building construction, and backup power systems — all of which drive demand for excavators, loaders, and generators. The company's shares jumped 12% following the earnings release, marking their largest single-day gain in 17 years.
Automation Partnerships Accelerate
The industry's transformation is not limited to new sources of demand. On July 31, Komatsu and its subsidiary Earthbrain announced a strategic partnership with AIM Intelligent Machines to deliver autonomous construction solutions for the Japanese and U.S. markets. The solution integrates Komatsu's Smart Construction platform with AIM's physical AI technology, enabling dozers and excavators to autonomously determine construction methods, travel routes, and execute tasks independently. Notably, AIM's technology can be retrofitted to existing equipment, allowing gradual fleet upgrades.
Policy Support and Domestic Momentum
On the policy front, the High-End Construction Machinery National Manufacturing Innovation Center was officially approved on August 3, jointly established by Changsha and Xuzhou. It is the only national-level manufacturing innovation platform for the industry.
The approval was followed by a high-profile three-day tour by Hunan Provincial Party Secretary Shen Xiaoming, who visited the province's three leading manufacturers — Sany Group, Zoomlion, and Sunward Intelligent — from August 4 to 6. Secretary Shen emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence integration, industrial transformation, and industry collaboration. He called for horizontal cooperation among similar enterprises and deeper collaboration across the supply chain to build a world-class industrial cluster.
Export Markets Remain Strong
China's engineering machinery exports continued their upward trajectory. First-half exports reached $34.373 billion, up 21.7% year-on-year. June set a new single-month record at $6.469 billion. The momentum is expected to continue through the second half of the year, supported by infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Is your fleet strategy aligned with the trends toward electrification, automation, and global expansion? Reply with your primary equipment types and target markets — we will share a brief assessment of how these industry shifts could impact your operations.
