China’s construction machinery exports have maintained strong momentum in early 2026, with Africa emerging as the fastest-growing overseas market.
According to customs data, China‘s engineering machinery export revenue for the first four months of 2026 reached $218.35 billion, up 20.8% year-on-year. First-quarter exports alone totaled $160.66 billion, a 24.3% increase over the same period in 2025.
Among all regions, Africa stood out most prominently. Chinese construction machinery exports to Africa surged 61.6% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching $2.825 billion. January-February exports to Africa alone jumped 77% to $1.9 billion, following a 49.8% increase in 2025. Industry sources indicate that approximately 75% of excavator demand in Africa originates from the mining sector — including copper, gold, and lithium — as new mine development projects accelerate across the continent.
Major Chinese manufacturers have responded aggressively. Sany Heavy Industry reported 2025 revenue of 8.31 billion yuan ($1.15 billion) in the African market, up 55.3% year-on-year, while Zoomlion’s African revenue surged over 157%. In April, Zoomlion hosted Mozambique’s president at its Changsha facility as bilateral cooperation deepened in the machinery sector.
Meanwhile, Latin America is also emerging as a promising frontier. Chinese construction machinery exports to Brazil have grown steadily, supported by the country’s expanding infrastructure and mining sectors. One significant recent development is Brazil‘s reduction of import tariffs on mining and construction equipment, which came into effect in early 2026, creating a more favorable environment for Chinese machinery entering the Brazilian market. Combined with Africa’s continued expansion, Chinese machinery manufacturers are well-positioned to capture market share in fast-growing developing regions.
China’s global engineering machinery exports have grown from $20.96 billion in 2020 to over $60 billion in 2025. The trajectory shows no signs of slowing.
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