Excavators are the "standard equipment" of infrastructure construction and a bellwether for reflecting infrastructure development and observing economic changes such as fixed asset investment.

In the first half of this year, infrastructure investment across the country showed a "blossoming in multiple areas" trend, continuously providing momentum for economic development. In the first half of this year, sales of two representative products of China's construction machinery industry—excavators and loaders—both achieved growth of more than 10%.

Nationwide infrastructure investment "blossoms in multiple areas" in the first half of the year

Six provinces exceed 50% operating rate for six consecutive months!

In the first half of 2025, national infrastructure projects advanced steadily, with the national average operating rate of construction machinery at 44.81%. Among them, the operating rate in the second quarter was 47.1%, up 4.62% from the first quarter. The average operating rate in 15 provinces exceeded 50%.

Among them, six provinces—Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Chongqing—had a comprehensive operating rate exceeding 50% for six consecutive months (January to June). This indicates that infrastructure investment across the country shows a "blossoming in multiple areas" trend, especially with East China and South China leading the way, providing momentum for economic development.

Major projects underway

Operating rates up in fifteen provinces!

In the first half of 2025, the average operating rate in 15 provinces increased compared with the same period last year, namely: Liaoning, Henan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Qinghai, Fujian, Guangxi, Xinjiang, Beijing, Jilin, Ningxia, Gansu, Jiangxi and Hainan.

The data shows that infrastructure construction in these provinces in 2025 was more active than in the same period of 2024, with a large number of engineering projects under construction, which to some extent reflects the steady progress of infrastructure investment in these regions and provides certain support for the stable operation and subsequent development of the local economy.

2025 H1 infrastructure "rising" dance illustrated

In the first half of 2025, among major equipment categories, the average operating rate of lifting equipment was 66.87%, ranking first among all major categories. Among lifting equipment, the top 10 provinces by operating rate were: Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hebei, Fujian, Chongqing, Sichuan, Beijing, Hainan and Henan.

The data shows that in the first half of 2025, more projects were in the critical construction stage of lifting and hoisting. The top-ranked provinces cover all four major regions of the country, indicating that national infrastructure projects in the first half of 2025 showed an overall trend of balanced advancement, and also reflecting that more projects have entered the phased wrap-up stage.

Four provinces dominate the rankings!

Central region busy with construction as the mainstay

In the first half of 2025, the comprehensive operating rate in the central region was 50.13%, ranking first among all regions. Anhui's operating rate was 66.24%, ranking first nationwide; Jiangxi's operating rate was 61.90%, ranking fourth; Henan's operating rate was 58.48%, ranking sixth; and Hubei's operating rate was 58.45%, ranking seventh. Of the top 10 provinces nationwide by half-year average operating rate, the central region accounted for four.

The infrastructure code behind the "steel camel caravan"!

Western region leads in road machinery

The western region closely seizes the opportunities of "Belt and Road" construction, and its economic development shows a trend of pioneering and enterprising spirit. Major projects in energy, transportation and other fields are being implemented in an orderly manner; the effectiveness of platforms such as China-Europe freight trains and cross-border economic and trade cooperation zones is improving.

In the first half of 2025, the operating rate in the western region was 48.45%, ranking second among all regions. By major equipment category, the half-year operating rate of port equipment was 42.64%, and that of road equipment was 27.50%, both ranking first among all regions for the same category. By sub-category, the operating rate of reach stackers in the western region was 42.51%, ranking first nationwide. In Ningxia, the workload of crawler cranes increased by 370.84% year on year, ranking first among equipment of the same category, and the workload of trailer pumps in Ningxia increased by 406.94% year on year, ranking second among equipment of the same category.

Rise of the black soil region!

Northeast leads the nation in reach stackers

The economy of the northeast region shows renewed vitality amid difficult transformation, with traditional advantages and new growth drivers accelerating their integration.

In the first half of the year, the comprehensive operating rate in the northeast region was 45.68%. By sub-category, the half-year operating rate of reach stackers in the northeast was 50.74%, and that of crawler cranes was 67.48%, both ranking first among all regions for their respective categories. In Liaoning, the workload of crawler cranes increased by 103.73% year on year, ranking second nationwide among equipment of the same category; in Heilongjiang, the workload of trailer pumps increased by 119.12% year on year, ranking fifth among equipment of the same category.

Eastern region's construction "pumps" up vitality! Seven equipment categories top the rankings

Concrete equipment "solidifies" first-place strength!

In the first half of 2025, the comprehensive operating rate in the eastern region was 45.58%. By major equipment category, the half-year operating rate of concrete equipment was 44.19%, and that of piling equipment was 39.48%, both ranking first among all regions for the same category. By sub-category, seven types of equipment in the eastern region—concrete pump trucks, truck-mounted pumps, mixer trucks, truck cranes, pavers, trailer pumps and rotary drilling rigs—ranked first among sub-categories, accounting for half of the 13 equipment categories.