China’s used excavators are flooding international markets at prices 20%-30% lower than competitors from Japan, the U.S., or Europe. This disruptive pricing isn’t accidental—it stems from a powerful convergence of industrial scale, strategic policy, and market innovation. As global infrastructure expands, understanding this cost advantage reveals much about China’s growing influence in heavy machinery trade. 1. Market Scale and Sourcing Advantages Vast Domestic Supply: With nearly 10 million units in circulation, China has the world’s largest inventory of construction machinery. This massive scale creates intense competition in the secondary market, depressing acquisition costs for exporters. Trade-In Ecosystem: Domestically, “trade-in” programs have become a primary sales model. Manufacturers like Sany and XCMG recover used equipment when selling new machines, creating a steady stream of inventory. Exporters then access these excavators at low prices, as manufacturers prioritize rapid resale to recapture working capital. Cost-Efficient Labor: Refurbishment in China leverages significantly lower labor expenses. Comprehensive reconditioning—including engine overhauls and hydraulic repairs—adds minimal cost, enabling high-quality “like-new” units at 70% of new-equipment prices. For example, a refurbished Sunward rotary drill (90% condition) sold for ¥2.5M versus ¥3.2M for a new unit. Table: Cost Structure Comparison of Refurbished Excavators | Component | China Cost Advantage……
1. Power and performance advantages Powerful power system Equipped with Caterpillar’s independently developed C6.4 diesel engine, the power can reach 135 horsepower (about 101kW), with stable power output, suitable for high-intensity operation scenarios (such as digging hard soil, crushing rocks, etc.). Equipped with turbocharging and direct fuel injection technology, it has high fuel efficiency, which reduces fuel consumption while ensuring power and reduces operating costs. Efficient hydraulic system Adopting Caterpillar’s advanced hydraulic control system, the hydraulic pump has a large flow rate (about 240L/min), strong digging force (bucket digging force can reach 137kN), and improves work efficiency. The action response is sensitive and the compound operation is smooth (such as digging + rotation at the same time), which is suitable for fine work or fast cycle operation. 2. Reliability and durability Sturdy structural design The body frame is made of high-strength steel, and key parts (such as boom, dipper, bucket) are thickened and reinforced, with strong impact and wear resistance, suitable for harsh working conditions (such as mining, heavy-load construction). The chassis adopts heavy-duty tracks and reinforced rollers, with low ground pressure and good stability, while reducing track wear and extending service life. Mature technical verification As a classic model……
Overheating failure: High temperature weather itself makes it difficult for the engine to dissipate heat, and the cooling system of the used excavator may have problems such as aging and performance degradation, such as radiator blockage and poor fan performance, which will cause the engine heat to be unable to dissipate in time, overheating, and excessive engine temperature. Long-term overheating will cause the engine parts to expand, destroying the normal matching clearance, and in severe cases may cause mechanical failures such as cylinder pulling and shaft sticking. Lubrication system failure: High temperature will reduce the viscosity of the engine lubricating oil and reduce the lubrication performance. For a second-hand excavator, the internal parts of its engine may have a certain degree of wear. When the lubricating oil’s lubrication performance deteriorates, the friction between the parts will increase, which may easily cause wear and tear, burning and other failures. At the same time, high temperature may also make the lubricating oil more easily oxidized and deteriorated, produce sludge and carbon deposits, block the oil circuit of the lubrication system, affect the normal circulation of the lubricating oil, and further aggravate the problem of poor lubrication. Fuel system failure: In hot weather,……
Market supply and demand Increased supply: China has a huge number of used construction machinery vehicles, which are still increasing. In 2025, the number of vehicles has exceeded 9 million, providing sufficient supply sources for the second-hand market. At the same time, as the speed of equipment replacement accelerates, more old equipment will flow into the second-hand market, increasing market supply and exerting downward pressure on prices. Demand fluctuations: From a domestic perspective, although infrastructure construction is still advancing, the growth rate may slow down, and the demand for second-hand excavators is relatively stable or slightly declining. However, in Asia, Africa and other regions, infrastructure demand is strong, and the export volume of used excavators has exceeded the domestic sales of new machines in 2024. In January 2025, the export orders of second-hand excavators accounted for 37%, and overseas market demand has become an important factor supporting prices. If overseas market demand continues to grow, it will alleviate the pressure of oversupply in the domestic market to a certain extent, and stabilize or increase the price of second-hand excavators. Economic situation Global economy: If the global economy maintains stable growth, the demand for excavators in industries such as infrastructure construction……
Brand and model: There are differences in quality, performance, reliability and other aspects of excavators of different brands. Brands with high popularity and good reputation, such as imported brands such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, etc., usually have a higher value retention rate and a relatively high price. Large excavators are generally more expensive than small excavators due to their strong working ability and wide range of applications. Service life: Service life is one of the important factors affecting the price of used excavators. Generally speaking, the shorter the service life, the less wear and tear of the excavator, the better the performance and appearance, and the higher the price. For example, a second-hand excavator that has been used for 1-2 years may still be around 70%-85% of its new car price; while an excavator that has been used for 5-6 years may only cost 30%-50% of a new car. Working hours: The working hours of the excavator directly reflect its actual use. Even if the service life is the same, the excavator with fewer working hours has relatively less wear and tear on its components, better performance, and a higher price. Generally speaking, the price of an excavator with 2000-3000……
When using a used excavator in summer, in order to avoid high temperature problems, measures can be taken from the following aspects: Do daily inspection and maintenance Check the cooling system: Before the summer comes, the excavator’s radiator should be fully inspected. Clean the dust, debris and oil on the surface of the radiator to prevent accumulation and affect the cooling effect. At the same time, check whether the radiator’s water pipe is damaged or leaking. If there is a problem, replace the water pipe or repair the radiator in time. Ensure the normal operation of the fan: The fan is an important component for excavator heat dissipation. Check whether the fan blades are damaged or deformed, and whether the fan’s drive belt is loose. If the blades are damaged, they need to be replaced in time; if the belt is loose, adjust the tension to ensure that the fan can run at a normal speed and effectively take away the heat. Check the coolant: Check the coolant level regularly to ensure that the level is within the normal range. If the coolant is insufficient, add it in time. At the same time, check the quality of the coolant. If……
When foreign customers purchase used excavators in China, they need to pay attention to the following aspects: Laws and regulations and import policies Understand import regulations: Different countries have different policies and regulations on the import of excavators, including tariff rates, import license requirements, safety standards, etc. Foreign customers need to understand their country’s relevant import policies in advance to ensure that the purchased excavators can be smoothly imported back to the country. China’s export regulations: After purchasing an excavator in China and exporting it, it is necessary to comply with China’s relevant export regulations, such as handling export customs declaration procedures. Customers can consult professional customs brokers or freight forwarding companies to understand the specific operating procedures and requirements. Product selection and quality Choose products according to needs: Excavators come in a variety of models and specifications, suitable for different working conditions and operating requirements. Foreign customers should choose the appropriate excavator model and configuration according to their actual work needs. For example, excavators used for mining need to have greater digging force and loading capacity, while excavators used for urban construction need to pay more attention to flexibility and environmental protection performance. Inspect product quality: Before purchasing, customers……
Daily maintenance Appearance cleaning: After work every day, use a high-pressure water gun or special cleaning equipment to remove dirt, dust, oil and other impurities on the surface of the used excavator. Pay special attention to cleaning the chassis, tracks and working devices to prevent impurities from accumulating and corroding the machine. Check fuel and lubricating oil: Before starting the machine every day, check whether the fuel tank is full, whether the fuel quality is good, and whether there are impurities and moisture. At the same time, check the oil level and oil quality of lubricating oils such as engine oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil, etc., to ensure that the oil level is within the normal range, the oil quality is clear, no odor, and no impurities. If the oil quality is found to be deteriorating or the oil level is too low, it should be replaced or added in time. Check the coolant: Check the level and concentration of the engine coolant to ensure that the coolant level is within the normal range and the coolant has good antifreeze and anti-boiling properties. If the coolant is found to be insufficient or deteriorated, it should be added or replaced in time…….
one. Market size and growth trend With the expansion of market demand for construction machinery, the used excavator market shows a booming trend. According to relevant data, by the end of 2022, the global construction machinery ownership amounted to 360 million units, of which the excavator ownership amounted to 2.9 million units. in 2022, China’s cumulative sales of excavators amounted to 261,000 units (including exports), although down year-on-year, but the used excavator market showed strong vitality. in 2023, China’s cumulative sales of second-hand excavators amounted to about 261,600 units, with a growth of about 34% year-on-year. In 2023, the cumulative sales of used excavators in China were about 261,600 units, with a year-on-year growth of about 34%. It is expected that China’s used excavator market will reach around RMB80 billion by 2028, which will become the largest used excavator market in the world. This growth trend is mainly attributable to the continuous promotion of domestic infrastructure construction and the accelerated replacement of construction machinery. Many users resell their old equipment, leading to an abundant supply and high demand in the second-hand market. Second, the market source and product composition The used excavator market has a wide range of product……
In all kinds of engineering construction projects, excavator as a key construction equipment, plays a pivotal role. With the development of the market, used excavators are gradually emerging as one of the preferred choices for many engineering practitioners. First, the current situation of the second-hand excavator market At present, the used excavator market presents a booming trend. On the one hand, with the continuous promotion of domestic infrastructure construction and all kinds of engineering projects, the demand for excavators is growing. However, the high acquisition cost of brand-new excavators discourages many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual practitioners, which provides a broad space for the development of the used excavator market. On the other hand, with the continuous updating of excavator technology, some owners in pursuit of higher operational efficiency and performance, will choose to replace the old equipment, these are eliminated from the equipment into the second-hand market, further enriching the market source. Nowadays, in the major construction machinery trading market, used excavator area is always crowded, the transaction is very active. Second, the advantages of used excavators 1. Significant price advantage: the most attractive place of the second-hand excavator lies in its price. Compared with……
When using a fully hydraulic used excavator, it is important to pay attention to the inspection and maintenance of the engine radiator, hydraulic oil cooler, and heat-related parts. Otherwise, the engine’s heat dissipation efficiency will be reduced, and the oil and water temperatures will increase, causing power to drop and wear to increase. In severe cases, it may lead to accidents of early engine damage, so the inspection and maintenance of these parts cannot be ignored. The heat dissipation of the hydraulic excavator engine adopts suction air cooling, which allows the air passing through the radiator core to be well distributed. To ensure the original heat dissipation effect of the hydraulic excavator engine during use, it is necessary to ensure the integrity of the heat dissipation-related parts. The following aspects affect the heat dissipation effect: 1. Prevent hot air from reflux during use The filler around the radiator is commonly known as “sponge”. But it cannot be replaced by any “sponge”. The requirements for it on the hydraulic excavator are that it must have good corrosion resistance and temperature resistance, and poor air permeability, because its main function is to prevent hot air from reflux. That is,……
1. The weight and bucket capacity of the CAT 336 excavator are fully considered to prevent the excavator from tipping over due to the excessive weight of the crushing hammer when the boom is fully extended. Choosing a hammer that is too large may cause the excavator to tip over, while a hammer that is too small may not fully utilize the excavator's capabilities and accelerate damage to the hammer. Only when the weight of the excavator and the breaking hammer matches can they fully utilize their effectiveness. In general, the standard bucket capacity of an excavator reflects the weight of the machine. The current good method is to calculate the range of optional breaking hammers based on the bucket capacity of the excavator. The relationship between bucket capacity and hydraulic hammer weight is as follows: Wh=(0.6~0.8)(W4+ρV) In the formula: Wh=Wl+W2+W3W1- weight of hydraulic hammer body (bare hammer) W2- weight of drill rod W3- weight of hydraulic hammer frame W4- weight of excavator bucket itself ρ – sand density, generally ρ=l600N/m3V – bucket capacity of excavator bucket 2. The working flow rate and pressure of the hydraulic breaker of Carter 336 excavator are different. The flow rate of a small……
1) Properly carry out construction organization design. The number and carrying capacity of dump trucks used in conjunction with used excavators should meet the requirements of excavator production capacity, and the capacity of dump trucks should be an integer multiple of the excavator bucket capacity. At the same time, try to use the double loading method as much as possible, so that one excavator is loaded and then the next one is loaded. As the two dump trucks are parked on the arc line within the reach of the excavator bucket for soil unloading, the bucket can be loaded in the forward direction and the vehicle can be loaded in the reverse direction, thereby improving the loading efficiency. 2) In the construction organization, the driving route of the dump truck should be predetermined and unnecessary uphill slopes should be cleared. For each excavation lane of the excavator, it is necessary to have an empty return lane to avoid mutual interference when dump trucks enter and exit. Each running track should be kept in good condition to facilitate the operation of dump trucks. 3) Excavator drivers should have proficient operating skills and try to use compound operations to shorten the excavator……
5 maintenance methods for Komatsu PC200 excavator 【1】 5 maintenance methods for Komatsu PC200 excavator 【1】 5 maintenance methods for Komatsu excavator 【1】 The hydraulic system of Komatsu excavator may experience malfunctions such as low or weak working device, walking, and turning speed, which may be caused by the following reasons: 1. Poor adjustment of PC valve. 2. Poor LS valve assembly. 3. The PC valve assembly is damaged. 4. Hydraulic component failure in the output circuit of the pressure reducing valve 5. Piston pump malfunction. 6. Fault in the servo piston of the plunger pump. 7. The main overflow valve is not adjusted correctly. 8. The unloading valve is not functioning properly. 9. The main overflow valve is damaged. The problem was solved and the solution was immediately presented. 【 Solution 】 Through fault analysis, the following solutions are obtained: 1. Adjust or repair the PC valve 2. Check and repair the LS valve 3. Maintenance of PC valve 4. Repair the hydraulic components of the pressure reducing valve output circuit or replace the hydraulic components of the pressure reducing valve output circuit 5. Maintenance of plunger pump 6. Repair or replace the servo piston of the plunger pump……
Assess the overall condition Check the appearance: Carefully inspect the appearance of the used excavator, including the body, cab, bucket and other parts. Check for obvious scratches, dents, deformations or repair marks, which may indicate that the machine has experienced a collision or severe working environment. At the same time, pay attention to the condition of the paint. Uneven paint or repainted areas may mask some problems. Check the chassis: The chassis is a key part of the excavator. Check the wear of the crawler to see if there are any missing, deformed or excessively worn track shoes. In addition, check the supporting wheels, sprocket wheels and guide wheels to see if there are any oil leaks, wear or inflexible rotation. Damage to these parts will affect the walking performance and stability of the excavator. Test the working device: Operate the working device of the used excavator, such as the boom, dipper and bucket, and check whether its movement is smooth and flexible, and whether there is any jamming, abnormal noise or oil leakage. Pay attention to the connection of the working device, such as the pin and bushing, to see if there is excessive wear or……
In the field of engineering construction, used excavators have become an ideal choice for many construction teams to reduce costs due to their relatively affordable prices. However, there are a lot of used excavators on the market. How to choose a device with good performance and reliable quality has become a headache for many buyers. Below, we will introduce the key points for purchasing second-hand excavators in detail. 1. Appearance inspection: the truth is in the details 1. Overall appearance: Carefully observe the overall appearance of the excavator to see if there are obvious deformations, dents or repair marks on the fuselage. If a large area is repainted, it may mean that the equipment has suffered serious collisions or damage and needs further in-depth inspection. 2. Component integrity: Check each component of the excavator one by one to ensure that all components are complete and there are no signs of missing or replacement. Pay special attention to some key components, such as booms, dippers, buckets, etc., to check whether their welding is firm and whether there are cracks or desoldering. 3. Walking device: The walking device is an important part of the excavator and directly affects its mobility. Check……
The cold export of Chinese construction machinery can be solved in the following aspects: Improve product competitiveness Increase R&D investment: Develop new products with high performance, high reliability, energy saving and environmental protection to meet the needs of different markets. For example, in view of the high environmental protection requirements of the European and American markets, develop electric and intelligent construction machinery products. Improve product quality: Strengthen the construction of quality management system, strictly control all links in the production process of products, improve the durability and stability of products, reduce the occurrence rate of failures, and enhance the reputation and market competitiveness of products. Promote technological innovation: Actively introduce advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, etc., realize the intelligent operation, remote monitoring and fault warning functions of construction machinery, and enhance the added value of products. Optimize market strategies Diversify market layout: On the basis of consolidating traditional export markets, actively explore emerging markets. For example, there is a strong demand for infrastructure construction in countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”, and efforts to develop markets in these regions can be increased. At the same time, pay attention to the market……
1. Strictly control the quality of second-hand construction machinery (I) Establish a comprehensive testing system 1. Set up a professional testing center equipped with advanced testing equipment, such as non-destructive flaw detectors, hydraulic system testers, engine comprehensive performance analyzers, etc., to conduct comprehensive testing of key components of second-hand construction machinery, such as engines, hydraulic systems, chassis, working devices, etc. 2. Formulate detailed testing standards and procedures, clarify the qualified range of each testing indicator, and the testing personnel strictly follow the standards and procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results. (II) Standardize the renovation process of second-hand construction machinery For exterior renovation, use environmentally friendly, high-quality spray paint materials to ensure that the spray paint process meets relevant standards, so that the refurbished equipment has a beautiful and durable appearance and meets environmental protection requirements.used excavator For the renovation of internal components, strictly screen the replacement parts to ensure that their quality reaches or approaches the standards of new parts. Perform strict performance tests on the repaired parts to ensure that they can operate normally. 2. Build a quality certification and traceability system (I) Introduce authoritative quality certification agencies 1. Cooperate with internationally renowned……
There are differences between imported and domestic used excavators in many aspects. Here are some of the main aspects: Brand and quality Imported brands: Some imported second-hand excavators come from internationally renowned brands, such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, etc. These brands usually have a long history of development and rich manufacturing experience, and have a high level of technology research and development, production process and quality control. Their products often use advanced design and manufacturing technology, and the processing accuracy and assembly quality of parts are high. Therefore, they have excellent overall performance and reliability, and can adapt to various complex working conditions and high-intensity operation requirements. Domestic brands: In recent years, domestic excavator brands have developed rapidly, such as Sany Heavy Industry, Zoomlion Heavy Industry, and XCMG. The quality of domestic second-hand excavators has also been greatly improved, and some high-end products are comparable to imported brands. However, due to the relatively short development time of the domestic excavator industry, some mid- and low-end products may have a certain gap with imported brands in terms of manufacturing process, component quality and overall stability. Service life and degree of wear Imported usedd excavators: Taking second-hand excavators imported from Japan……
Used excavators come from a wide range of sources, including the following: Obsolete equipment of leasing companies: Leasing companies usually update their equipment fleet on a regular basis to ensure the overall performance and reliability of the fleet. Some excavators that have reached a certain level of service life or have accumulated a high number of working hours may be eliminated due to the leasing company’s business strategy, equipment upgrades, etc., even though they can still work normally. These equipment have generally undergone some maintenance and are guaranteed in terms of performance. Engineering companies switching or downsizing: Some engineering companies may decide to switch or downsize their engineering equipment due to business direction adjustments, changes in the market environment and other reasons. At this time, they will sell the excavators in their hands. The use of these excavators varies according to the type of business and working environment of the engineering company, and they may be used in relatively good environments such as urban construction and road construction, or they may be operated in harsh environments such as mines and fields. Mortgage equipment repossessed by the bank: when the user who purchased the excavator is unable to……
Those who operate excavators know that besides maintenance and upkeep, the main cost of daily work is burning oil. Do you feel a slight heartache every time you refuel the machine? Since refueling is unavoidable, we need to put effort into saving fuel. Today, we have some hard dishes to provide you with some fuel saving techniques for excavator operation. Before sharing, imagine yourself as an excavator. A fuel-efficient excavator is equivalent to working with less effort, so that you can experience the truth firsthand. Firstly, if conditions permit, the excavator should be positioned as high as possible during loading, and the truck should be parked at a height similar to the working surface; The reason is simple. Do you use the same force to lift a stone to your knees as it does to your head? How much effort can be saved specifically? If the height remains the same as before, it can increase homework efficiency by 40%. Cool! The second point is that when the bucket cylinder and connecting rod, as well as the head rod cylinder and head rod, are all at a 90 ° angle, each cylinder exerts the maximum force to push the excavator. The……
The CAT 336 excavator's boom descends too quickly and nods when it lifts. The "nodding" fault is usually caused by damage to the load check valve at the inlet of the control valve, but no problem was found after inspection. Based on the system schematic analysis, the fault is a one-way valve malfunction between the boom control valve and its acceleration valve. Confirmed after dismantling and inspection. Within a few minutes of turning and walking to the right, everything suddenly disappeared. During the test drive, it was found that the oil outlet pipe of the front pump was strongly vibrating. Upon inspection, it was found that there was a large amount of copper and iron powder in the return oil filter element of the fuel tank. Copper and iron powder also appeared in the oil discharge of the front pump casing. The front pump is severely damaged. Suddenly, the entire vehicle slows down to 1/5 of the standard operating speed. The engine is working properly. The fault is a damaged engine speed. Suddenly, the whole car started to "hold the car". After inspection, it was found that the variable solenoid valve PCV of the rear pump was not working. The……
1. After boiling, turn on the radiator: When excavators start working, some excavator owners may directly turn on the radiator of the water tank to cool down, but this method is actually incorrect Therefore, the temperature of the radiator is very high after high temperature. If you are eager to open the radiator cover at this time, you may be scalded by the hot water sprayed out. You should wait for the second-hand excavator to cool down naturally before adding water. 2. Stop immediately after high temperature: If the excavator starts boiling, it cannot be stopped immediately because the engine temperature is extremely high. If the engine is turned off and stopped immediately, some metal in the radiator may fall off, which may cause the piston, piston ring, and cylinder liner to stick together and cause excavator failure. 3. Directly flushing the engine with cold water: Some owners may directly flush the engine with cooling water after experiencing high temperatures in the excavator, in order to reduce the engine temperature In fact, although this method can cool down, directly using cooling to flush the engine may cause damage to certain internal components of the engine, and may even cause other……
1. Dirty condenser If the compressor is dirty, the heat dissipation effect will decrease. Please clean it with water, etc. Attention: Please do not use high-pressure water to clean the condenser. The condenser installed in front of the radiator is particularly prone to accumulating dirt, please wash it with water. 2. Tension point inspection of V-belt If the tension of the V-belt is loose, the service life of the V-belt will be significantly reduced due to the sliding and shaking of the belt. Please check whether the V-belt is loose by hand pressure. 3. Inspection of piping connection points Please visually confirm the oil penetration, dirt and dust adhesion of each connecting part of the cooling device. 4. When reusing after a long period of inactivity ·Conduct a comprehensive inspection of all aspects of the "cooling device inspection". ·When starting the cooling device, please do not sharply increase the speed of the compressor. Attention: In order to extend the service life of the cooling device and maintain good performance, it is recommended to use preventive maintenance inspection during the initial use. 5. Operation during off-season (infrequent use) ·Regardless of summer or winter, please install the cooling device components and add……