Since the beginning of this year, China's construction machinery sector has kept tapping into the international market. While large-scale equipment reaches more overseas markets, smaller Chinese-made machines are quietly gaining popularity abroad. Among these are mini-excavators made in Jining, a city in east China's Shandong Province, whose exports reached 10.8 billion yuan in the first three quarters of 2026, up 39% year on year.

Excavators produced by Shandong Hengwang Group Co., Ltd.

Photo by the Information Office of Jining Municipal People's Government

Excavators produced by Shandong Hengwang Group Co., Ltd.

Photo by the Information Office of Jining Municipal People's Government

Jining has made significant progress in developing mini-excavators by leveraging its strengths in construction machinery manufacturing and responding to overseas demand. To help local foreign trade companies tap into international markets, the local government has introduced tailored support measures for individual enterprises and established platforms for international cooperation. It also organized companies to participate in the Canton Fair and specialized trade fairs abroad, encouraging them to work together for a larger overseas market.

Meanwhile, Jining has improved its overseas warehousing networks and fostered new forms of cross-border e-commerce, injecting new impetus into foreign trade upgrading.

Jining is home to more than 500 small-scale construction machinery companies and supporting businesses. In the first three quarters of 2026, their exports reached 10.8 billion yuan. These small machines are making a big impact in global markets, offering a vivid example of the high-quality development of the city's private sector.