Analysis of the development status and trend of China's forklift industry, unmanned forklifts will become the future development trend

Benefiting from the demand attributes of forklift products, in recent years, the forklift industry has developed rapidly despite the complex and changeable economic environment at home and abroad and the slowdown in economic growth, especially in 2017 and 2018, the forklift industry In the complex and changeable market environment, the sales volume has repeatedly broken new highs. In 2018, the sales volume exceeded 500,000 units. In 2021, the sales volume of forklifts exceeded 1 million units, reaching 1,099,400 units.

From January to October 2021, a total of 930,593 forklifts were sold, a year-on-year increase of 290,952 units, an increase of 45.5%; of which: domestic companies sold 856,335 units, a year-on-year increase of 266,203 units, an increase of 45.1%; foreign companies sold 74,258 units, an increase of 24,749 units. An increase of 50%; the cumulative sales of Electric Forklifts was 547,526 units, a year-on-year increase of 229,175 units, an increase of 72%; electric forklifts accounted for 58.83%, and the cumulative sales of internal combustion forklifts was 383,067 units, an increase of 61,777 units, an increase of 19.2%.

2. Status Quo of Forklift Export
China Customs divides forklifts into other electric forklifts, working vehicles equipped with lifting or handling devices (84271090), container forklifts (84272010), other motorized forklifts, other working vehicles equipped with lifting or handling devices (84272090) and unlisted forklifts, etc. There are four types of work vehicles (84279000) with lifting or carrying devices. According to data, in 2021, under the raging foreign epidemic situation, foreign forklift-producing countries will reduce production to varying degrees, resulting in a rapid increase in China's forklift exports. By the end of 2021, China's forklift exports will rise to 2,783,800 units, a year-on-year increase of 37.57%.

Under the transformation of electrification and intelligence, the forklift industry is expected to rely on the domestic fast-growing market and continue to increase its share globally, and gradually grow into a global giant with strong competitiveness. According to statistics, as of 2021, the number of other electric forklifts and working vehicles equipped with lifting or handling devices in my country will be 408,712, with an export value of US$1.439 billion, a year-on-year increase of 57.19%. In 2021, other motorized forklifts, other working vehicles equipped with lifting or handling devices, and unlisted forklifts and other working vehicles equipped with lifting or handling devices will achieve positive growth in both export volume and output value.

Source: China Customs, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
Related report: "2022-2027 China Forklift Market Competition Pattern and Future Investment Prospect Forecast Report" issued by Huajing Industry Research Institute
3. Unmanned forklift market structure
"Unmanned forklift", also known as "unmanned forklift" or "forklift AGV", is an intelligent industrial vehicle robot. It integrates forklift technology and AGV technology. Compared with ordinary AGV, it can complete point-to-point material handling in addition to In addition, it can realize the logistics and transportation of multiple production links. It is not only good at the three scenarios of high-level warehouse, out-of-storage receiving area, and production line transfer, but also has an irreplaceable role in scenarios such as heavy load and special handling. Through the application of unmanned forklifts, the problems of large logistics volume and high labor intensity of manual handling in the process of industrial production and warehousing logistics operations can be solved.
At present, domestic fork-type mobile robot (AGV/AMR) manufacturers are mainly divided into traditional forklift manufacturers, traditional AGV manufacturers, logistics integrators and warehousing robot companies. Among them, forklift manufacturers have the highest market share, accounting for more than half.