Chinese construction-equipment brands are accelerating their push into Europe, and France — the continent's largest market by size — sits in the cross-hairs. According to industry body Evolis, Chinese imports of French BTP (building and public works) equipment jumped from €200 million in 2024 to €260 million in 2025, even as total imports fell 15% to €2.7 billion; China's share of imports rose 3.3 percentage points to 9.6% in a French market worth €5.5 billion.

Chinese machines from Hangcha, LiuGong, XCMG, Sany, Sunward and Zoomlion sell 15% to 30% cheaper than European and Japanese competitors such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, Volvo, Haulotte, Manitou and Mecalac. XCMG — world number four — is setting up a French construction-equipment subsidiary; LiuGong is doing the same and claims 85% distribution coverage by volume; Sany has operated a French branch since 2023. Rental leaders Loxam and Kiloutou have already signed supply deals. French major contractors Eiffage and Spie Batignolles say they remain loyal to premium European suppliers for now, but concede small electric machines may come from China.

The European Commission, seized by Germany's VDMA, has opened an anti-subsidy probe on mobile cranes, and new tariffs already cover aerial platforms. Overall French equipment sales fell 1% in 2025, with large earthmoving down 13% — the second-worst year since 2014. Evolis warns the Chinese threat is 'a tsunami', especially in electric equipment. Source: Les Echos, 16 April 2026, Christophe Palierse.