Factories hum on rising overseas demand
Competitive pricing, improved tech and faster delivery cycles helping Chinese manufacturers secure orders across emerging markets
By Zhong Nan | China Daily | Updated: 2026-03-09 09:55
Rising orders from overseas buyers are offering an early glimpse into the momentum of China's export sector in the Year of the Horse.
At Zhejiang Sharbo Electric Appliance Co, an air conditioner manufacturer in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, production lines restarted on the first working day after the Spring Festival holiday to fulfill a 15,000-unit order for wall-mounted and window air conditioners from a client in the United Arab Emirates, with shipments scheduled for completion by the end of April.
The rush to deliver the first batch of 3,000 units by mid-March underscores how competitive pricing, improving technology and faster delivery cycles are helping Chinese manufacturers secure orders across emerging markets, from the Middle East to Southeast Asia and Africa.
The Chinese manufacturer, which focuses on the research, development and production of wall-mounted, floor-standing, ceiling-mounted and portable air conditioners, has in recent years stepped up its global expansion strategy, introducing new models that are energy-efficient and equipped with smart technologies.
Gao Feiji, Zhejiang Sharbo's foreign trade director, said the company has been expanding distribution networks in emerging markets, especially in the Middle East and Africa, to secure long-term growth beyond single bulk orders. "Although tensions in the Middle East have added uncertainty for shipments to the region, we remain committed to expanding our presence in the region over the longer term," said Gao.
Not far away in the same city in Zhejiang, another exporter also echoed this trend, saying strong overseas demand is keeping factories running at full capacity and boosting hiring.
"Since the start of 2026, demand driven by the global energy transition has continued to gather pace, with orders from the European market proving particularly strong. To seize this opportunity, we have ramped up production and accelerated deliveries," said Shu Xiaoyu, president of Ningbo Deye ESS Technology Co, an energy storage equipment manufacturer based in Ningbo.
"Even during the Spring Festival holiday, our smart workshops, with only a few on-duty workers, operated efficiently. On the first working day after the Chinese New Year holiday, our factory utilization rate reached 85 percent, and we have now moved to full-capacity operations," said Shu.
