Chinese construction-equipment brands surge into France: 'a tsunami'
Source · Industrial desk
— Summary
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.
The story in one line: After solar panels, heat pumps and EVs, construction and logistics equipment is the next European industrial market being reshaped by a wave of aggressive Chinese entrants — and France is the prime target.
Key numbers
French imports of Chinese BTP equipment: €200m in 2024 → €260m in 2025 (+30%).
Total French equipment imports: -15% to €2.7bn in 2025.
China’s share of French imports: +3.3 percentage points to 9.6%.
French market size: €5.5bn.
Chinese price discount vs. European/Japanese competitors: 15% to 30%.
LiuGong claims 85% French distribution coverage; Sany operating in France since 2023; XCMG and LiuGong launching French subsidiaries.
2025 French equipment sales: -1% overall, -13% for large earthmoving (2nd-worst year since 2014).
Why it matters
The pattern mirrors EVs: Chinese players leverage their stalled domestic market and closed US access to push volume into open Europe. They arrive with competitive pricing, Japanese/American/German component supply chains (Cummins engines, ZF Friedrichshafen transmissions, Japanese hydraulic pumps) and, critically, leadership in electric equipment — a segment where European incumbents are only beginning to invest. Rental channels (Loxam, Kiloutou) are a key vector: around a quarter of the French market flows through rental. Contractors Eiffage and Spie Batignolles stay loyal to premium European suppliers for now, but concede small electric machines could switch.
Takeaway
The Chinese push is in its early phase but already structural. The real fight is in electric machines, where the European price-performance gap may be widest. Expect European incumbents Haulotte, Manitou and Mecalac to come under visible pressure, and further Brussels anti-subsidy action.
Source: Les Echos, 16 April 2026, Christophe Palierse.