China Excavator Market Statistics 2025 Sales and Export Data
Citation-ready industry data
China's major excavator manufacturers sold 235,257 excavators in 2025, including 116,739 units for export. Exports represented 49.6% of reported manufacturer sales, compared with 20.0% in 2021.
This statistics article separates manufacturer sales, customs-based construction-machinery trade value and used-equipment interpretation so that researchers and buyers can quote the numbers without mixing incompatible datasets.
Key takeaways
What changed
- Exports became structural: their share of manufacturer excavator sales rose from 20.0% in 2021 to 49.6% in 2025.
- The market recovered from its 2023 low: total excavator sales increased 20.6% between 2023 and 2025, although 2025 remained 31.4% below the 2021 peak.
- China's wider construction-machinery export value nearly tripled: from US$20.96 billion in 2020 to US$60.169 billion in 2025, a calculated increase of 187.1%.
- These are not used-excavator counts: manufacturer sales and customs trade data indicate market direction, but neither dataset identifies the number of second-hand machines.
Five-year series
China excavator sales, domestic sales and exports: 2021-2025
The table uses annual statistics attributed to the China Construction Machinery Industry Association (CCMA). Export share is calculated as export sales divided by total reported excavator sales.
| Year | Total sales | Domestic sales | Export sales | Export share | Change in total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 342,784 | 274,357 | 68,427 | 20.0% | +4.63% |
| 2022 | 261,346 | 151,889 | 109,457 | 41.9% | -23.8% |
| 2023 | 195,018 | 89,980 | 105,038 | 53.9% | -25.4% |
| 2024 | 201,131 | 100,543 | 100,588 | 50.0% | +3.13% |
| 2025 | 235,257 | 118,518 | 116,739 | 49.6% | +17.0% |
Source years: CCMA manufacturer survey data for 2021-2025. The 2025 release was published 9 January 2026. Percentages may differ slightly because of rounding. See Sources 1-4.
Export volume expanded while domestic volume reset
From 2021 to 2025, export sales rose 70.6%, while domestic sales fell 56.8%. This is the clearest change in the market's demand mix.
2023 was the low point in this series
Total sales fell to 195,018 units in 2023, then rose to 201,131 in 2024 and 235,257 in 2025. The two-year recovery was 20.6%.
2025 growth was not export-only
Domestic sales grew 17.9% and exports grew 16.1% in 2025. The result was a broader recovery than the export-led adjustment seen after 2021.
Early 2026 indicator
Exports led the first two months of 2026
35,934 excavators sold in January-February 2026
CCMA data reproduced in the March 2026 industry release reported 15,478 domestic sales and 20,456 export sales. Total sales increased 13.1% year on year.
56.9% of the two-month total was exported
Exports increased 38.8% year on year, while domestic sales declined 9.19%. Two months are not a full-year forecast, but they show that overseas demand remained important at the start of 2026.
Source: CCMA February sales data reproduced by Lange Steel, published 18 March 2026. Partial-year results should not be compared directly with full-year totals.
Tonnage structure
Which excavator size classes were exported in 2024?
A 2024 market analysis using CCMA data classified small excavators as up to 18.5 tonnes, medium excavators as 18.5-28.5 tonnes and large excavators as 28.5 tonnes or more. Of 100,588 export sales, small machines were the largest group by units, while medium machines accounted for more than one third.
Up to 18.5 t
45,540 | 45.27%
18.5-28.5 t
36,447 | 36.23%
28.5 t or more
18,601 | 18.49%
Why this matters: the data support a broad export market rather than a single 20-tonne segment. Buyers can find compact, general-earthmoving and heavy-production classes in China's supply chain, but individual used stock still has to be confirmed by model, serial number and condition.
Source: 2024 CCMA size-class data compiled by D1CM, published 18 February 2025. Shares shown are each size class as a percentage of all 2024 excavator export sales.
Global context
Construction-machinery exports reached US$60.169 billion in 2025
Customs-based CCMA trade statistics cover the whole construction-machinery industry, not only excavators and not only used machines. They are useful for measuring the scale and geographic reach of China's export ecosystem.
| Indicator | Period | Value | Change / share |
|---|---|---|---|
| China construction-machinery export value | 2020 | US$20.96bn | Base year |
| China construction-machinery export value | 2025 | US$60.169bn | +13.8% YoY; +187.1% vs 2020 |
| Africa share of industry export value | 2024 | 13.5% | All construction machinery |
| South America share of industry export value | 2024 | About 11% | All construction machinery |
| Exports to Indonesia | 2025 | US$2.946bn | +15.1% YoY; 4.89% of total |
| Excavator exports to Indonesia | 2025 | US$1.02bn | Product-specific customs value |
Sources: CCMA customs-based trade release and association reports, Sources 2, 3, 6 and 7. Regional shares refer to the entire construction-machinery industry and must not be presented as excavator-only shares.
Used-equipment interpretation
What the official statistics can and cannot tell used-excavator buyers
| Statistic | Reasonable interpretation | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer domestic sales | New-machine demand and the future fleet-replacement pipeline | Current used inventory or used-machine prices |
| Manufacturer export sales | Overseas demand and factory export activity | Number of used excavators exported |
| Construction-machinery customs value | Scale and direction of the export ecosystem | Excavator-only value unless a product line is stated |
| Komtrax operating hours | Utilisation of connected Komatsu machines in the reporting population | All-brand national utilisation or an individual machine's hours |
| Supplier stock listing | A machine offered at a specific time | Availability, ownership or condition without current verification |
The official sources reviewed for this article do not publish a complete annual split between new and used excavator exports. Any source that labels the CCMA manufacturer-export figure as “used excavator exports” is changing the original meaning.
Buyer analysis
What these changes mean for international used-equipment procurement
6-18.5 tonne machines
Small excavators were 45.27% of 2024 manufacturer export sales. For used purchases, prioritize transport width, auxiliary hydraulics, blade condition and parts availability over headline price.
18.5-28.5 tonne machines
Medium excavators represented 36.23% of 2024 export sales. This class is widely compared for roads, foundations and general contracting; verify undercarriage life and final container or flat-rack cost.
28.5 tonnes and above
Large excavators were 18.49% of 2024 export sales. Lower unit price can be offset by dismantling, inland haulage, ocean freight and higher component risk, so inspection evidence matters more.
Conclusion
China's excavator market has shifted from a predominantly domestic sales cycle to a near-even domestic/export structure. That change supports a deeper export service network and a broader future replacement pool. It does not remove machine-level risk. Used buyers should treat market statistics as a sourcing signal, then make the purchase decision from current photos, serial plate, cold-start and working video, meter evidence, hydraulic and undercarriage inspection, loading plan and final FOB or CIF cost.
Citation-ready facts
Short data statements for researchers and publishers
“China's major excavator manufacturers sold 235,257 excavators in 2025, including 116,739 for export; exports represented 49.6% of reported sales.”
Source year: 2025. Primary origin: CCMA manufacturer survey. Released 9 January 2026.“Excavator export sales increased 70.6% between 2021 and 2025, while total reported sales remained 31.4% below the 2021 peak.”
YUANJIAN calculation from CCMA annual data, 2021-2025.“China exported US$60.169 billion of construction machinery in 2025, up 13.8% year on year and 187.1% above the 2020 value.”
Source years: 2020 and 2025. CCMA reports based on customs data.Methodology
Definitions, calculations and limitations
How the figures were prepared
Annual unit data come from CCMA surveys of major excavator manufacturers. Export share, multi-year change and recovery percentages were calculated from published unit totals and rounded to one decimal place. Trade values come from CCMA releases compiled from customs data.
What is excluded
This page does not estimate unreported private sales, auction turnover, dealer-to-dealer transactions or a national used-excavator export count. Product availability, prices and condition change faster than annual industry data.
Suggested citation: YUANJIAN MACHINERY Research Desk. “China Excavator Market Statistics 2025: Sales, Exports and Used-Equipment Signals.” Updated 15 August 2026. https://cnusedexcavator.com/pages/china-excavator-market-statistics
Source register
Primary and supporting sources
- China Construction Machinery Industry Association: December 2025 product sales bulletinPublished 9 January 2026. Source department: CCMA Statistics and Economic Operations Department. Provides 2025 excavator total, domestic and export sales.
- CCMA: December 2025 construction-machinery import and export bulletinPublished 21 January 2026. Compiled from customs data. Provides 2025 industry export value and annual growth.
- CCMA Sixth Council work reportPublished 24 March 2026. Provides the 2020-2025 construction-machinery export-value series endpoints.
- The Paper summary of CCMA annual excavator dataPublished 8 January 2025. Supporting historical series for 2021-2024; original data attributed to CCMA.
- D1CM: 2024 excavator market analysis by size classPublished 18 February 2025. Supporting analysis using CCMA data for small, medium and large excavator sales and exports.
- CCMA: construction-machinery development during the 14th Five-Year Plan2026 association report. Provides 2024 regional export-value shares for Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.
- CCMA exhibition notice with 2025 Indonesia customs statisticsPublished in 2026. Provides total construction-machinery and excavator export values to Indonesia.
- Lange Steel reproduction of CCMA February 2026 sales dataPublished 18 March 2026. Provides the January-February 2026 partial-year excavator split.
- Komatsu official monthly demand and Komtrax dataPrimary corporate source explaining that regional operating hours are monthly averages from Komtrax-connected construction equipment.
Current machines
Move from market data to machine-level evidence
Industry statistics help define the market. A purchase still depends on the exact excavator. Compare current listings, then request evidence tied to the serial number before payment.