Chinese Mini Excavator – Is It Any Good And How To Get One?

In the past, Western Europe and Japan were known as the powerful mongers and creators of mini excavators. Though, that has changed in the past decade or so. Nowadays, mini excavators’ major markets and manufacturing businesses are primarily from emerging economies — as China.

After years of development, the Chinese Mini Excavator market became the newest standard. With the country’s ever-growing construction industry, China’s manufacturing prowess consistently grew and developed. Currently, many of the top mini excavator companies and brands in the world are based in China.

For more information about this special heavy equipment, here are frequently asked questions about Chinese mini excavators.

Is a Chinese Mini Excavator Worth Buying?

China is known as the world’s top mini excavator market, mostly thanks to its massive construction industry and the tremendous demand for heavy construction equipment and vehicles. The technology of small and mini excavators China has to offer became famous after years of development. Its quality is high, and most are reasonably priced.

After years of constant research and production, China’s small excavator technology has matured, and the quality is now highly reliable. Notably, China mini excavators perform high strength on narrow and small sites. They can effortlessly transport to inaccessible locations using a crane. Not to mention, many big brands in the world have already set up production bases in China, including Caterpillar, JCB, Komatsu, Doosan, etc.

As for whether it’s worth buying or not, it mostly depends on your budget. While many cheap brands are in the Chinese market, the higher quality ones are normally priced relatively high. There is also the matter of importing if you are from another country entirely.

What Factors Influence the Performance of a Chinese Mini Excavator?

Chinese Mini Excavator Factors

Here are a few factors that can influence the performance of a mini excavator from China:

Budget

If you’re looking for a mini excavator, you should be prepared to spend quite a lot. It is a heavy-construction vehicle that is usually priced high. You can find cheap brands in China, though don’t expect them to be the best quality.

The top Chinese mini excavator brands in the market are relatively reasonably priced, but a lot is still expensive. The standard price of a fairly good standard Chinese mini excavator is around $20,000. That price can quickly go over $45,000.

Parts Sourcing

Chinese Mini Excavator Parts

Parts sourcing is one way to assemble and complete a Chinese mini excavator. A qualified China’s small excavator brand should have reliable and advanced engines that offer high-quality power and strength to the workforce. The typical excavator engine brand found in China includes Yanmar, Kubota, Briggs & Stratton, Changtai, etc.

Regarding hydraulics, A good manufacturer should have exclusive efficient hydraulic control systems that enable them to be more effective in the field. Choosing the right hydraulic means more versatility and better functionality. Note that the better the quality of these components, the more expensive the excavator will be. Typical hydraulic brands cover Eaton, Hyde, Doosan, and others.

Optional Functions

The cheapest small excavators have various features, though you may have specific requirements they can’t meet. If purchasing a standard Chinese mini excavator won’t do, then looking for a mini excavator with additional features probably will.

For example, zero tail swing, side swing booms, extended landing gear, extended booms, and long arm — each additional attachment you purchase can increase the overall price, but it makes the machine a better fit for the job.

Excavator Assembly Process

Assembling and manufacturing a mini excavator involves more than a few complicated steps. How an excavator is made and constructed matters immensely. People tend to ignore this, but it does play a massive part in determining how well an excavator will perform and how long it will last.

Brand

If you have done your research, you can probably make a decent guess at the price range of a mini excavator just by knowing what brand it came from. As with most things, the brand is another crucial factor that can determine the quality and price of a product.

What Mini Excavator Brands Are Popular in China?

China develops and produces countless products, making building a name and brand in the trading industry and market difficult. Currently, the construction industry is amassing massive progress among all these Chinese products — resulting in higher demand and more manufacturing brands.

Given the country’s hundreds of good manufacturers and suppliers, purchasing a mini excavator in China is challenging. You must analyze and research to narrow down the possible list of choices. Each company offers unique features and benefits, so this task alone can take hours.

For your convenience, here is a list of some of China’s most popular mini excavator brands. Though, note that the products from these brands tend to be expensive.

1. XCMG

Since its establishment in 1989, the XCMG excavator manufacturers have made tremendous progress in the Chinese market. It became one of the world’s top leading mini excavator companies, primarily thanks to the efforts of its owner, who has a remarkable four decades’ worth of experience in the machinery industry. The great part about this company is that it is now supplying and delivering to 187 countries worldwide.

2. SANY

Being the first Chinese company to enter the Global 500 Financial Times, one can’t deny that SANY earned its global success and reputation. Over the years, it garnered several accomplishments, proving that its products are some of the best in the market. SANY has over 90,000 employees working hard to ensure their customers receive the best services and products.

3. ZOOMLION

Although founded in 1992, Zoomlion has already accomplished so much for a young company. It’s now the world’s 6th largest Chinese brand for construction machinery. Zoomlion has made incredible progress since its establishment in terms of success and products.

4. Other brands

The brands mentioned above are several most popular ones in China, and mostly you can find them from local dealers. Though you might need to pay the extra money, they can offer better service and fast delivery.

However, there are also many mini excavator brands in China. They may not be that well-known but still feature good performance and quality. Still, it depends on your budget to find a reliable one. In this case, you may import directly from a manufacturer by saving a huge cost.

Feeling tough to get a Chinese mini excavator? Try reaching Sjheavy to get a quick quote.

Where to Buy a Chinese Mini Excavator?

With the booming business in the construction and manufacturing industry, it should not be surprising that there are several ways and places to purchase China mini excavators. Refer below to see some of the best places to look:

B2B Marketplace

One place to purchase Chinese mini excavators is at B2B marketplace. A B2B marketplace is a platform where companies and businesses can gather and carry out commerce.

It is an ideal solution for organizations to quickly network and trade with other companies. Through this platform, you have more options for mini excavators and even find ones at lower prices.

The best example of a B2B marketplace for Chinese mini excavators are Alibaba, Made-in-China, and eBay. Though this way is convenient for buyers, you should know that it has a few shortcomings. There are too many suppliers, most are not professional, and it’s hard to pick a qualified one.

Local Dealer

Chinese Mini Excavator Local Dealer

A local dealer is the most convenient method of purchasing a Chinese mini excavator. It offers a professional means of communication and often delivers fast responses. Note that this tends to be more expensive than going through a B2B marketplace.

From A Manufacturer In China

Purchasing from a manufacturer in China is the most cost-effective and efficient solution. Aside from having no additional agent or dealer cost, you can also make customized requests to find the right size excavator and directly contact the factory or company. You can ask for instant updates about your order, make necessary changes, and even have access to professional technical support.

For example, send a request for a 1 ton excavator from Sjheavy.

Should You Choose A Trader Or Manufacturer?

While looking for a mini excavator in China, most people are confused about choosing a manufacturer or trader. Some would often shrug and go about with the option that is cheaper or more convenient for them, which is a pretty good thought process.

There isn’t much difference between them — except one can give you a lower price (manufacturer) while the other can deliver a more detailed service (trader).

You can choose between them based on your budget and overall requirements. Better analyze which one would give you good services within your budget range.

How Can You Find A Reliable Chinese Excavator Supplier?

Chinese Mini Excavator Reliable Manufacturer

Consider some factors when searching for a reliable Chinese mini excavator manufacturer.

1. Check The Company’s License And Quality Certifications

When choosing a reliable and trustworthy manufacturer, company licenses and quality certifications are significant. Feel free to ask for government-issued documents that can help prove their authenticity. Also, ask about their business scope and establishment year. This way, you can find the best brands with high-quality products.

2. See If They Have An Official Website

A company’s website can tell you plenty of things about the manufacturer. You can find the prices, services, production process, experience, and other products they offer.

3. Customs Data

The trade and export data of mini excavators in China and other countries confirm the brand status. This way, customers can judge the extent and worth of the products.

4. Customer Evaluation and Reviews

Of course, one of your best judges to determine if a brand is trustworthy or not is other customers. The B2B marketplace often displays customer reviews and feedback.

You can freely see what other buyers say about a particular brand or model. If you have a friend from China, ask them for help reviewing the seller’s information.

How to Import A Chinese Mini Excavator?

Below are the simple steps to importing a Chinese mini excavator.

Find a trader or manufacturer who will agree to your price and offer reasonable payment terms.
Get a quote. Ask the manufacturer for a quote that includes all your costs.
Make an international payment. Usually, a Chinese seller or supplier needs a 30% deposit on each order before shipping. They will receive the remaining 70% once the goods are delivered.
Deliver the machine.
Clear it through customs. This step needs the necessary documents required for importing the mini excavator. Some documents you need to prepare are the arrival notice, bill of lading, packing list, and customs bonds for a mini excavator from China.
Retrieve your construction vehicle.