At the recently concluded 13th China International Machine Tool Exhibition, Wu Bolin, Executive Vice President of the China Machine Tool Industry Association, shared his insights on the current state and future outlook of the industry. He emphasized that China's macroeconomic environment remains strong, and the machine tool sector is expected to see a recovery in 2013. With sustained growth in key industries such as aerospace, energy, automotive, and rail transit, the total output value of the machine tool industry is projected to grow by approximately 10% this year.
Wu pointed out that 2012 was a challenging year for domestic machine tool manufacturers, with significant shifts in market demand. On one hand, declining exports, slower investment, and weak domestic demand led to a sharp drop in local demand. On the other hand, user industries are accelerating their structural adjustments and product upgrades, which has raised expectations for higher-quality machine tools and more customized services. As a result, the structure of demand is changing rapidly.
According to statistics, new orders have remained negative for 19 consecutive months as of December 2012. The demand for low-end products has fallen sharply, while the import volume of mid- to high-end machine tools continues to rise. This highlights a growing mismatch between the product structure of Chinese machine tool companies and the evolving market needs. Improving the competitiveness of domestically produced medium and high-end machine tools has become a top priority.
Wu believes that after over a decade of rapid growth, the Chinese machine tool industry is currently facing a difficult adjustment phase. While the past decade brought notable achievements, China still lags behind in the middle and lower ends of the global industrial chain. With increasing demands from the market, the lack of competitiveness in mid- to high-end products, and the impact of re-industrialization in developed countries, the competition is set to intensify. The business environment will likely become even tougher, and the industry must find a way to reverse its current challenges.
The only viable path forward, according to Wu, is through transformation and upgrading. This involves technological innovation, improved management practices, and enhancing the skills of the workforce to boost overall industry competitiveness. In response to the evolving market conditions, machine tool manufacturers should leverage available resources, stay aligned with user needs, adjust their product structures, and enhance the market appeal of domestically produced mid- to high-end machine tools.
DG Zhongxingshun Sealing Products Factory , https://www.zxs-seal.com