Forklift Industry Observation: Intelligent Transformation and Upgrade Gains Momentum

Recently, the monthly report on forklifts in the machinery industry shows that in January 2025, the sales of forklifts decreased by 15.4% year-on-year, domestic sales dropped sharply by 24%, while export sales increased slightly by 0.69%. The release of this data has drawn widespread attention from the industry. 

According to the latest statistics, 93,648 forklifts of various types were sold in domestic market in January, a decrease of 15,680 units compared with the same period last year. Among them, the domestic market performed relatively weakly, with sales of 54,950 units, a 24% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite setbacks in domestic sales, the export situation improved, reaching 38,698 units, representing a year-on-year growth of 0.69%. This transformation has given major enterprises a glimmer of hope even when facing market fluctuations, and the proportion of exports has thus risen to 41.32%.

From the perspective of the domestic market, in 2024, the sales proportion of domestic forklifts reached as high as 93.45%, and the sales of electric forklifts also performed outstandingly. The sales of electric forklifts in the previous year reached 805,000 units, with an electrification rate of 62.62%. 

Against such a market backdrop, major forklift manufacturers have begun to accelerate the pace of intelligent transformation one after another, embracing new opportunities and challenges. Some companies have signed cooperation agreements with high-tech enterprises, and the two sides have carried out in-depth cooperation in the fields of intelligent logistics and digital transformation. This move will undoubtedly help the company gain an edge in the future market.

Some other enterprises are delving deeply into innovations in the field of "intelligent robots + logistics". By building a more intelligent logistics solution, they expect to find a way out in the rapidly changing market. 

Although forklift sales declined at the beginning of 2025, the recovery of the manufacturing industry may have a positive impact on domestic forklift sales against the backdrop of macroeconomic recovery. Domestic manufacturing enterprises, leveraging their cost and delivery time advantages, along with the benefits of their electrification transformation, are expected to continue enhancing their competitiveness in overseas markets. Under the impetus of policies, the forklift industry's demand for renewal may embrace new growth opportunities. Never the less, the future of the forklift market remains full of uncertainties. Enterprises in the industry must keep up with the trends and seize the new opportunities of intelligent transformation.