At the start of Q2 2026, China's construction machinery market features divergent pricing and robust exports. Loaders, excavators and tractors exhibit price differentiation alongside remarkable export growth, driven by overseas sales that have seen rising volume and revenue, with major destinations including the Belt and Road regions, Europe, America, ASEAN and Africa.
In the excavator segment, fierce competition prevails among small-tonnage 6-ton and 7.5-ton models, with prices falling below 90,000 yuan and 130,000 yuan respectively. Supported by cost factors, medium and large-sized China National IV emission standard models, particularly 20-ton units, maintain stable prices of 750,000 to 850,000 yuan. Electric excavators remain in the initial development stage with low market penetration. Q1 exports reached 33,000 units, a 36% year-on-year increase, mainly to the US, Indonesia and Germany, while ASEAN, Africa and Latin America are the fastest-growing regions.
The loader market maintains steady development. 5-ton China National IV fuel-powered loaders keep stable prices of 360,000 to 380,000 yuan. Electric loaders achieved over 50% market penetration in Q1, with prices 15% to 25% higher than those of fuel models. Q1 exports neared 20,000 units, a 38.5% year-on-year rise, mainly to the US, Kazakhstan and Brazil, with a focus on North America, Central Asia and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) regions.
Driven by spring ploughing demands and subsidy policies, the tractor market presents high-end price hikes and fierce low-end competition. Large-horsepower models see rising prices, while small-horsepower ones face intense rivalry. Jan-Feb exports exceeded 35,000 units, mostly shipped to Africa and the Belt and Road countries, which account for over 60% of total exports.
Overall, the industry is evolving toward electrification, high-end upgrading and large-scale manufacturing, with optimized domestic market structure, steady export expansion and enhanced development resilience.
