According to statistics from the Industrial Vehicle Branch of the China Construction Machinery Association, domestic forklift sales exceeded 1.0098 million units in the first seven months of this year, with exports reaching 380,500 units, a year-on-year increase of 22%. Against the backdrop of a challenging global trade environment, domestic forklifts achieved growth against the trend, driven by three major transformations: electrification, intelligentization, and overseas expansion.
Electrification has become the industry's primary growth driver. In the first half of 2026, electric forklift sales continued to rise, accounting for over 80% of total sales, while lithium-ion battery forklifts saw simultaneous growth in both domestic and international markets. Leveraging China's mature and complete lithium-ion battery industry chain, lithium-ion battery forklifts offer significant advantages in energy costs, with some projects achieving a reduction of approximately 70% in daily energy costs per unit, balancing cost reduction and low-carbon benefits. Leading companies such as Heli, Hangcha, and Zhongli are continuously improving their full-series electric product matrix, covering everything from warehousing and material handling to heavy-duty scenarios. Industry organizations predict that the global penetration rate of lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts will exceed 70% by 2034. However, the European and American markets have stringent standards for product safety, quality, and after-sales service, while the Southeast Asian market urgently needs to improve its quality and service systems.
The intelligent forklift market also holds enormous growth potential. Currently, the penetration rate of unmanned forklifts in China is about 2%, on the eve of large-scale explosive growth. Traditional AGV equipment suffers from practical pain points such as fixed paths and high investment costs for non-standard scenario modifications, hindering project implementation. Industry companies are exploring tiered implementation solutions, allowing customers to start with single-machine equipment, upgrade modularly, or directly deploy a full-scale intelligent logistics solution. Leveraging new technologies such as industrial embodied models and multi-machine scheduling platforms, the autonomous perception and decision-making capabilities of intelligent forklifts are continuously improving. Industry data estimates that the domestic unmanned forklift market will exceed 13.3 billion yuan in 2027, and intelligent material handling equipment will see broad growth potential in the next five years.
The forklift industry's overseas expansion has entered its second phase. In the first half of the year, exports of motorized industrial vehicles reached 318,085 units, a year-on-year increase of 20.97%, with electric forklift exports growing by 24.67%. Leading domestic manufacturers are no longer limited to simple product exports, but are gradually shifting towards localized factory construction, R&D, and service output. Companies like Heli, Hangcha, Zhongli, and Liugong forklifts have established overseas production bases to circumvent trade barriers and shorten delivery cycles. Different overseas markets have significantly different demands: the European and American markets emphasize safety certifications and real-world application cases; the Southeast Asian and Latin American markets prioritize delivery speed and supporting services. Competition in overseas markets has shifted from price-performance ratios to a comprehensive contest of brand, technology, and localized services.
The million-unit sales volume is just a milestone in the industry's development. Electrification, intelligentization, and globalization are intertwined, and the domestic forklift industry is shifting from scale expansion to value enhancement.
Hefei King Kangaroo Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in the international trade of construction machinery and heavy trucks for many years. As a key export partner for many well-known domestic brands such as Heli, Hangcha, and Zhongli, its business covers more than 100 countries worldwide, with annual sales exceeding US$100 million. Leveraging a stable supply of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products, King Kong Shu Technology provides overseas clients with export services for forklifts, heavy trucks, construction machinery, and spare parts. The company has assembled a multilingual professional sales team familiar with market access and product certification requirements in various countries, efficiently handling client inquiries and securing contracts. Simultaneously, it offers diversified logistics solutions including sea, rail, and air freight, providing a full-chain after-sales service encompassing OEM warranties, spare parts supply, equipment maintenance, and technical training, meeting the procurement needs of projects in different countries in a one-stop manner.
Targeting the global market, Hefei King Kangaroo Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. keeps pace with the wave of Chinese-made equipment going global, streamlining the entire supply chain from sourcing and logistics to after-sales service, delivering stable and reliable Chinese construction equipment to global buyers.
