The Tools Sub-council of the China Machine Tool Industry Association (CMTBA) has compiled and analyzed import data for tools (including cutting tools, measuring instruments, and gauges) from customs for the first half of 2025.
Key highlights from the data, including the values of the following tool imports:
Inserts: $261.1 million
Drill tools: $82.1 million
Tapping tools: $61 million
Milling cutters: $60.7 million
Interchange tools: $34.7 million
Boring and reamers: $16.8 million
Superhard interchangeable tools: $14.45 million
The import value of measuring instruments and gauges was $89.44 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 2.28%. Within this category, gauge imports accounted for $20 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 18%. In contrast, the import of measuring instruments (including coordinate measuring machines and contour projectors) was $69.44 million, a year-over-year decrease of 6.89%.
According to the latest data from CMTBA, a key consumption segment of machine tools in China is the heavy-duty machinery manufacturing industry. From January to May 2025, this industry achieved a total import and export volume of $19.18 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 8.2%. More specifically, exports totaled $17.88 billion, rising by 9.49% year over year, while imports amounted to $1.3 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 6.82%. The three major manufacturing sectors within this category are metallurgical machinery, mining machinery, and logistics and transportation machinery.
Additionally, new statistics released by the China National Statistics Bureau (NSB) in mid-July indicate that in the first half of 2025, the value added by the equipment manufacturing industry increased by 10.2% year over year. Both the equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing industries are demonstrating steady growth. Notably, the outputs of 3D printing equipment, new energy vehicles, and industrial robots have surged, with increases of 43.1%, 36.2%, and 35.6% year over year, respectively.
A few recently announced projects and investment news items are listed below:
Guangzhou GAC Group BYD New Energy Passenger Vehicle will invest $417 million to build a facility and purchase gantry-type machining centers, CNC machining centers, plastic injection, and establish a manufacturing center for EV molds in Guangdong Province.
Jiangxi Kalaso Automotive Absorber Manufacturing will invest $27.8 million for production with an annual output of 3 million shock absorbers.
Guangdong Hi-Chance Sci & Tech will invest $400 million to build 11 workshops and purchase machining equipment to produce robots.
Shandong Huafeng Blower Machinery will invest $65 million to produce 3,000 magnetic levitation blowers and 5,000 Roots blowers annually.
Changzhou Acteco Power Technology will invest $70 million to produce powertrain products in Jiangsu, with an annual output of 150,000 cylinder heads and cylinder blocks.
Suzhou Youjia Bearings Sci & Tech will invest $60 million to build a facility in Anhui Province for the machining and assembly of precision bearings.
Anhui Guangli Intelligence Sci & Tech, a 3D printing services provider, will invest $14 million for technological upgrades and purchase equipment to increase production capacity.
Quanxing Machining Group will invest $77 million to build a new production line for a common rail high-pressure pump with an annual output of 700,000 units in Shaoxing City.
Xuancheng Luxshare Precision Industry, one of the subsidiaries of Luxshare Group, will invest $358 million to build a new facility for the production of connectors for EVs, with an annual capacity of 100 million units.
For more information, please contact Fred Qian at fredqian@AMTchina.org, and to learn how to take advantage of these opportunities, click here.
