What NHK’s latest report got right about Chinese excavators – and what it missed

2026-04-20

I was catching up on some industry news last week when I came across a documentary from Japan's NHK. Honestly? It stopped me for a second.

They sent a crew to a big nickel mining site in eastern Indonesia. And what they found wasn't what they expected. Row after row of red excavators – Sany red. Not the usual yellow Komatsu or Hitachi machines you'd have seen five years ago.

The reporter's comment stuck with me: “Japanese construction machinery is repeating the fate of home appliances and shipbuilding.”

Strong words from a national broadcaster.

I run a small trading company focused on heavy machinery – excavators mostly, plus some loaders and bulldozers. We sell to buyers in Southeast Asia, Africa, and a bit in Europe. So this NHK report hit close to home.

Let me tell you what I think is actually happening. Because it's not just about price anymore.

The export numbers don't lie

First quarter of 2026. Chinese excavator manufacturers shipped 33,757 units overseas. That's up 36% from the same period last year.

Compare that to domestic sales – up only 8%. The export growth is more than four times faster.

One of my regular buyers in the Philippines messaged me last month. He said: “I used to only buy Japanese. Now I’m not so sure. The Chinese machines I got last year are still running fine, and parts are easier to find.”

That’s real. I hear that more and more.

Where are Chinese excavators winning?

Southeast Asia – Indonesia is the biggest market. Chinese brands now hold over 50% of excavator sales there. For concrete machinery? 90%. You can't get that kind of share with cheap machines that break all the time.

Africa – Exports jumped 77% in early 2026. Why? Mining. Copper, gold, lithium. About 75% of excavator demand in Africa comes from mining. And global mining spending is expected to grow 50% between 2024 and 2030. That’s a huge wave.

Europe – This one surprised me. You can’t just ship any excavator to Europe. CE mark, emissions standards, noise regulations – it's strict. But Chinese exports to Europe still grew 28% in early 2026. Companies like SDLG have been shipping electric excavators that meet the rules. That tells you something.

What actually changed?

Ten years ago, Chinese excavators had real problems. Hydraulic systems leaked. Engines didn't last. You couldn't get parts.

Now? Different story.

First, reliability is way better. The weak spots are mostly gone. You don't get 90% market share in Indonesia if your machines are junk.

Second, service networks. This is huge for construction equipment. When your excavator stops, you lose money every hour. Chinese brands spent the last five years building parts warehouses and local service centers. Zoomlion just opened a new plant in Hungary – their 13th overseas R&D and manufacturing base. That's not a cheap play. That’s a long-term service play.

Third, technology. At CONEXPO 2026 in Las Vegas (biggest construction show in North America), Sany, XCMG, and Zoomlion all showed machines built for the US and European markets. Not copies. Custom designs. And people in the industry are talking about AI-assisted controls, 3D boundary systems, electric drivetrains.

One small moment from that NHK documentary

There's a quiet scene near the end. A Komatsu sales rep is visiting clients across Southeast Asia. Site after site, he keeps seeing new Sany machines – not the Komatsu excavators he's been selling for years.

He pauses for a few seconds. Then he just says: “The competitive landscape has truly changed.”

No drama. No yelling. Just a guy who’s been in heavy machinery for decades, looking at reality.

What this means if you're buying equipment

If you're a contractor or a mining operator in Southeast Asia, Africa, or even parts of Europe – the old rule (“buy Japanese or American”) doesn't hold like it used to.

Chinese excavators today are reliable enough. Parts are available in most major markets. And the total cost of ownership – purchase price, downtime, maintenance, resale – is often lower than the traditional brands.

That doesn't mean every Chinese brand is good. There are still cheap, throwaway machines out there. You have to know who you're buying from.

But the top players – Sany, Zoomlion, XCMG, SDLG – have moved into a different category.

The NHK report got one thing right: the global heavy machinery market is changing fast. And if you're buying equipment in 2026, it's worth taking a fresh look at what Chinese brands are offering.

Don't assume yesterday's reputation is still true today.