China’s engineering machinery exports maintained strong momentum in the first four months of 2026, fueled by overseas infrastructure demand and the continued recovery of global markets.Customs data shows that China's engineering machinery exports grew 20.8% year-on-year to 218.35 billion during January–April2026.The first quarter contributed 218.35 billion during January–April 2026.The first quarter contributed 160.66 billion of that total, a 24.3% increase over the same period in 2025.

The export surge is broad‑based across product categories. From January to April, China exported 45,582 excavators, a remarkable 32.5% year‑on‑year growth, while loader exports climbed 43% to 26,669 units. According to the China Construction Machinery Association, export performance has been accelerating month by month — April 2026 alone saw loader exports soar 57.4% compared to the previous year, far outpacing the domestic growth rate. Electric machinery is also gaining traction overseas, with 1,016 electric loaders shipped in the first four months.

The strong export figures align with positive industry sentiment. The global construction machinery market is steadily recovering, with market size expected to exceed $230 billion in 2026. Driven by major infrastructure initiatives such as the “Belt and Road” projects, Chinese manufacturers have built an increasingly robust presence across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

However, trade tensions in the European market are also raising concerns. The EU has escalated its use of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) to launch multiple investigations targeting Chinese industries, covering sectors from rail equipment to wind power. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Justice ruled on May 15 that the EU‘s FSR‑based cross‑border investigations constitute “improper extraterritorial jurisdiction measures”. The evolving trade landscape remains an important factor for Chinese machinery exporters to monitor.