Brief
Mini excavators have been enjoying great popularity these years. Especially during the COVID-19 period, many people choose to buy a micro excavator for their own use, which could avoid gathering as much as possible. In addition, the importing and exporting of mini excavators are getting more frequent than before, which is why the shipping cost was increasing so high.
When it comes to mini excavators, some famous brands will certainly come into our minds, such as Caterpillar, Kubota, Komatsu, Bobcat, etc. We have to admit that the product quality from them is good. After all, they all belong to the long-history company, and the brand influence is there. However, if we buy one mini excavator from them directly, the price could be very high. So many people are wondering whether could we buy a micro excavator at an affordable price while the quality is good enough to use.
The answer is YES.
We can buy such compact excavators from China. Many people have turned their attention to small excavators made in China. This is a very right choice. Besides the famous brand introduced above, there are also some other brands in China that manufacture mini diggers. Since years ago, the mini excavator market in China has been in a blooming situation. There are quite a lot of manufacturers there. What’s more, after these years of development, the techniques and manufacturing process have been quite mature while the price them maintains at a low level because of the fierce competition.
The problem is how can we find reliable mini excavator suppliers there. One is that we are afraid of traveling so long distances for only one mini excavator, especially during the COVID-19 period, it is almost impossible for our travel. Another is the total cost can be much higher if we plus the traveling fees than buy a mini digger directly from our local market.
But don’t worry, this article will provide an ultimate solution for such questions. We cover regulations, payments, warranties, and maintenance issues when importing mini excavators and spare parts from China.
Excavator Manufacturers in China
The excavator manufacturing industry is booming in China to meet the increasing demand market. There are many types of excavators, here we divided them into conventional mini excavator, zero tail mini excavator, midi and big excavator, wheel excavator, and backhoe excavator. These products are still some major industrial clusters in China that may be of particular interest to you. Choosing which company would satisfy your requirement could be tough since so many options there. Below follows a list of the most important cities and provinces where you can have a better choice:
- Kunshan, Jiangsu
- Changzhou, Jiangsu
- Xuzhou, Jiangsu
- Shanghai, Shanghai
- Tai’an, Shandong
- Jinan, Shandong
- Liaocheng, Shandong
- Jinhua, Zhejiang
- Rui’an, Zhejiang
- Qingdao, Shandong
- Shenyang, Liaoning
- Dongguan, Guangdong
In most industries, the eastern provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong make up more than 70% of China’s machinery exports. When it comes to the mini excavators, Shandong province would be the No.1 for the mini excavator exporting. The reason is that they are the basement of the machinery manufacturing base. The powerful spare parts or components supply makes it easy for assembling. If you want to import a micro excavator from China, you can focus on these places first.
Why Should We Choose Compact Excavators From China
In the last decade, Mini Excavators manufacturing has become more powerful and popular in China. After years of development, China has become the biggest Mini Excavator market in the world. The technology of small excavators in China has been very mature, the quality is high, and the price is affordable. Not only price is cheap, but you can also have a better understanding of excavators made in china. So, choosing mini diggers from China is the right choice.
Advantage:
- Price: Mini excavators are much cheaper in China than in other countries, making them a great option for budget-minded buyers.
- Quality: In previous years, the made-in-China products may be considered low quality at cheap prices. However, it’s getting amazingly better nowadays. Especially for the mini excavators, the technique is quite mature as a result of the fierce market competition. You can use it for several years without any worries.
- Technical support: Chinese manufacturers typically provide better service and support than their international counterparts. If something goes wrong with your mini excavator, you will usually be able to get technical support shortly.
- Quick delivery: The manufacturing process can be very quick for most factories. Like us we can finish the production for the compact excavators within 5 working days.
- Reputation: Chinese mini excavators are generally considered to be of high quality, which means that you can trust that they will do the job they’re supposed to do.
Risk:
- Long distance: It can be quite a long distance for some countries. So the delivery can be a headache for those people, especially those who have no importing experience. Also, the long delivery distance increased the risk of goods damage.
- Language: China is a unique country for using the Chinese language, so it is difficult to communicate with them. Although the mini excavator companies could speak some other language such as English, the culture and education difference makes it difficult.
- You Receive Low-Quality Mini Excavator: This is another risk that you might face when importing your mini excavator from China. It can be avoided by choosing a high-quality and trustable manufacturer. If you place an order without conducting in-depth research about the manufacturer, you may end up receiving a low-quality product. You need to ask your colleagues and friends if they ordered from any high-quality manufacturer. This can save you time and money at the same time. Moreover, you can also check the reviews and feedback of your selected manufacturer on his website. You will be able to make a better decision and avoid getting the low-quality product.
Verdict:
There are enough reasons to choose a compact excavator from China, while the risks are also there. You should make your own decision considering all factors.
What Is The Process of Importing A Mini Excavator From China?
If you have never imported goods from China before, it is not an easy task. The importing process can be extremely complex, confusing, and costly. Expected gains can often be erased by long transit times, rising or fluctuating delivery costs, regulatory fees, and unexpected delays. So we have to make it clear first what is the process of importing micro excavators from China. You can take the following as a reference.
- Research
You must have your own need for compact excavators. Whether it is for your household, or want to wholesale or distribute them in your local area, you should know what kind of excavators are your target. And will search for them on the internet or ask your friends.
- Negotiation
Find out the manufacturer from the internet, and send your inquiry. Then you can compare the technical specification and price for the better choice. And confirm which to buy.
- Make the deal
Sign a contract with the supplier, and confirm which trade terms are good for you. The basic terms include FOB, CIF, and DDP. If you are the first time to import and don’t have a shipping forwarder who can be cooperated, then choose the CIF or DDP, which can save much trouble for you. In addition, try to make it as clear as possible on the contract of all the other terms related to the mini excavators.
- Delivery
The delivery is the biggest issue for importing compact diggers. If only 1 set, it is recommended by LCL shipping which could save shipping costs, since most compact excavators are small in size. If the quantity is big, one 20GP or 40HQ is recommended. Usually, the suppliers could make a good package.
- Custom declaration and clearance
Usually, the mini excavator supplier could finish the declaration to China customs. Then the goods will be released on the ship, and the journey starts at your destination port. When the excavators arrived, you need to do the clearance work to get the goods out of the custom.
- Inspection
After receiving the micro excavator, and delivered to your house or farm, the first thing is to check whether there is any damage to it. If any problems are found, contact the supplier to solve them.
Documents Required for The Importation of Machinery
To import mini diggers from China, several documents need to be provided. There are four documents that anyone looking to import machinery from China or any part of the world must possess. They are:
Bill of Lading: The bill of lading is a document sent out by the carrier to the agent, captain, or owner of the goods. This document serves as a promise of payment. It also provides information on the destination of the item, the form of transportation, and the estimated time of arrival.
Packing List: It is the Shipper or freight forwarder that sends out a packing list. A packing list contains all the information on the invoice of an imported product and more. A CBP offer reviews a packing list and the invoice before a good is cleared for shipping.
Commercial Invoice: An invoice is an essential part of any purchase. For the importation of mini excavators from China, ensure that your commercial invoice contains the following information:
The shipping address
The contact information of the supplier
The name and location of the manufacturing company
The recipient’s name and location
The business address
The country of origin
The value of the machinery
The description of the item (mini excavator)
Arrival of Notice: A shipping agent can help you with preparing an arrival notice. This arrival notice is passed on to the consignee or recipient (you). The arrival notice is a document that let the importer of machinery or any other good that it has made it to its destination.
An arrival notice also includes information like pickup charges, the number of cargo units transported, and what is included in each unit.
How to Calculate the Total Cost for Importing A Mini Excavator
The main purpose to import mini excavators from China is to save costs. Only when the total cost is much lower than local machines, then we choose that way. After all, no one is willing to waste a long time waiting for an excavator coming from a distanced place. So it is important to calculate the total cost accurately. Here is the component as below:
✔Product cost
✔Package cost
✔Land transportation to the port of supplier
✔Charges on the port of departure
✔Sea freight cost
✔Insurance
✔Charges on the port of arrival
✔Tariff and some other taxes
✔Land transport cost to your home
The above cover almost all the costs that are needed for importing micro excavators from China. If you have such a plan, please follow these main items. Meanwhile, you have to make clear exactly the cost for each item.
What Do You Need Consider Buying Mini Excavators?
1. Weight of the compact excavator
It is important that you know the weight of the compact digger so that you can be able to handle it safely. So, how much a mini excavator weighs is the first thing you need to know when planning to buy your own.
2. Size or Dimension of the micro excavator
Don’t forget to ask for dimensions when buying a mini excavator. First of all, you have to pack it and book the ship according to the dimension. Secondly, it is important that you know the mini excavator dimensions so as to be able to decide whether it will fit in your workplace or not.
3. It is hydraulically controlled or not
As the mini excavator market develops, many small manufacturers cut down their prices by lowering the quality. Sometimes, they equip the mini excavator with the faked pilot control. As we can only see the machine through videos or pictures, it can be quite difficult to identify it. While most manufacturers still keep it fully hydraulic controlled, all the moves could be operated smoothly.
4. Engine power of the compact digger
The power of the machine is another important factor to consider when buying a compact excavator. If the machine is not powerful enough, then it will not be able to do the job that you want it to do. The most powerful mini excavators are considered more efficient.
5. Engine emission standard
The people from North America and European countries have a very strict requirement for engine emissions. The engines exported to the US and Canada have to satisfy the EPA Tier4 emission standard so as to meet the CRAB regulations. Meantime, European countries have their own EURO5 emission requirement for goods entered into the European market.
When it comes to this question, we can select branded engines such as Yanmar, Kubota, Perkins, etc. which could meet all these standards.
6. Options for the mini excavator
The options of the mini excavator are also an important factor you need to take note of when buying this machine. As we all know, many mini-type excavators are with canopy, which is also called an open cabin or roof. While some models could be equipped with an enclosed cabin. So the AC could be attached inside the cabin. You can choose the retractable chassis, which is easy to go through the narrow space. The high-low double-speed motor can help the compact excavator walk faster. And the track could be steel or rubber, you can decide that according to your actual need.
7. Attachments for mini excavator
There are many tools that could be attached to the mini excavators to fulfill different tasks. The typical ones include breaking hammer, auger, ripper, hydraulic or mechanical thumb, quick hitch, tilting bucket, clamp bucket, narrow trenching bucket, wide cleaning bucket without teeth, etc. In China, most small excavators are equipped with a backup pipeline for installing all those attachments. So, you have to confirm what kind of work you need to finish, then bring the tools together with the mini excavator accordingly.
| Attachments | Pictures | Brief Description |
| Breaking Hammer |  | When you need to break hard materials like pavement breaking, indoor groundbreaking, etc., you’ll need such an equipment |
| Drilling Auger |  | Needed when you have to drill deep holes. It runs by hydraulic circuits, attached with a spiral blade, and may come in different sizes as per our actual needs. |
| Ripper |  | Helpful in tearing through tough objects. Can help you demolish frozen structures through your farm machinery system. |
| Grapple |  | The grapple is a very useful tool that could grab wood, steel, and many other things. Also, the rotated grapple is optional. |
| Thumb |  | When we need to remove some stones or other materials, the thumb could be a great help |
| Quick Hitch |  | Helps you to switch between all attachments or tools while maximizing the versatility and productivity of your excavator. |
| Buckets |  | The most important attachment with your little excavator machine is to carry or move materials from one place to another. May have different widths to carry different materials. |
8. What is the warranty on the micro excavator?
Asking about the warranty on the mini excavator should not be underrated. Some companies may offer a longer warranty, or additional warranty coverage, which can help to protect your investment. Confirm a longer warranty so that you can be sure that you are getting the best possible deal.
9. Fuel consumption
Before buying a mini excavator, the fuel cost could always be a big factor to consider. Different models have different fuel consumption. Even the same model from different mini digger manufacturers is different. We have to make it clear before purchasing since it matters the daily cost in the future.
9. Performance of the compact digger
The digging depth, digging height, digging distance, and some other performances are of great importance to the mini excavator. The performance will determine how deep you can dig and whether or not it will be able to handle the tasks that you plan on using it for. So it is also a vital factor to consider when thinking about buying this compact digging machine.
10. Price of the mini digger
Last but most importantly, what is the cost of the compact digger machine? This is the question that buyers ask regardless of what they are buying and it is obvious in the case of a mini excavator. The cost of the machine will depend on its size, power, and features, as well as other factors. Considering all the above 9 items, also ask from some other manufacturers, you can get an idea. Try to exclude the cheapest one and the most expensive one, then choose from the middle-priced with the same features. So how to decide which seller is the question followed.
How To Find The Right Mini Digger Manufacturer In China
1. Search The Manufacturer Online
Search keywords such as “China mini excavator manufacturer”, “China mini digger” or “Chinese mini excavator” etc. from Google, Bing, or similar ones, to find the real manufacturers or suppliers. There could be a lot of information there, try to classify them by details. The branded or big companies usually have a nice-looking website and clear product categories. Also, check whether there is client feedback or something else.
2. Check Company Registration Files
After choosing several companies the price and technical specifications are good, then you need to identify whether this company exists or not. The basic way is to check the registration business license. This could be checked easily on many websites, such as this one. There are also some other certificates like Exporting&Importing License, and Tax Registration Certificate which is all issued by the official authority, that can prove the company’s existence.
3. Manufacturers VS Trading companies
Before purchasing compact diggers, some people may be wondering should we choose a direct excavator manufacturer or a trading company. The answer differs from each other.
The manufacturers mainly focus on the production of mini excavators, and they have a technical team that could solve the problems easily once happen. They may be weak at a business negotiation.
Meanwhile, the trading companies could have very fluent communication with clients, which makes it easy for the whole purchase. Their price may be a little higher compared with the manufacturers. So you should make your own decision considering the pros and cons.
4. Exporting Data
To check the exporting data of the mini digger suppliers. From this data, we can know the number of products exported by the supplier, so as to identify the supplier’s existence.
5. Alibaba or Made-in-China
As the biggest two B2B e-commerce platforms in China, they are quite popular all around the world. Many people would like to buy from those websites. If the excavator suppliers want to show their products there, they have to be checked and verified strictly. So if one supplier is showing their products in both places, most likely they are genuine companies.
6. Friends’ Reviews About Mini Excavator Company
Ask your friends or neighbors who have experience importing mini diggers from China. They could always provide good suggestions. Or if you have some friends in China, asked them to verify the suppliers on your behalf.
7. Videos and Phone Calls
Talking with the suppliers directly through mobile is the most effective way to compare only text each other. As the development, video call is much more convenient through WhatsApp, Wechat, or zoom.
How to Check The Quality of Mini Excavator
Since it’s almost impossible to come to the factory for inspection, so it has become difficult to identify the quality of the mini diggers. Nobody wants to import junk after so long time waiting. Here are some points we could follow to check the mini digger’s quality.
1. Watch the video of the mini excavator operation taken by the supplier, to check whether all the movements are fluent or not.
2. Start the mini digger, and listen to the voice of the engine if it’s abnormal. And check whether the whole body shrinks fiercely.
3. Take pictures of every component of the digger machine. Watch the welding point of every corner to check whether there is some less welding or over the welding.
4. Operate the micro excavator to dig a hole or some other movement close to the real working conditions.
5. Rotate the mini digger body by 180°， and put down the blade and arm to support the whole body. Keep this position for at least 2 hours to check whether some incidents happened such as hydraulic leaking.
6. Test the attached tools if available.
Payment
The most concern to buying a mini digger from China is how to guarantee the safety of our payment. And there are some payment methods there for your choice.
- 1. 30% initial deposit that the suppliers start the production and 70% balance payment when the goods are ready before shipment by TT through the bank. This is the most common payment method that the suppliers prefer. We agree with this term on the condition that the supplier is the genuine one.
- 2. The fair way and also commonly accepted by all the people is by LC (short of Letter of Credit. Compared with TT, there are many documents needed to submit to the bank. And bank could be a guarantee in the middle between buyers and sellers.
- 3. If it’s only very little money buying some spare parts, you can use Paypal, West Union, etc.
Package and Delivery of Mini Excavators
If you need only 1 set of mini excavators, then you should take the LCL shipping with which the shipping cost could be much less. What we need to consider is the destination port charges can be much. It’s better we make it clear about this point by asking the suppliers or your own shipping agent. One point we need to notice is we have to pack it inside a wooden box by this method, so the extra cost has to be considered.
Another way is to load the mini diggers directly into the containers if the quantity is over 2 sets. The suppliers will help to pack them one by one, taking the most advantage of the space. Then fasten all of them inside in case of a ship up and down.
The shipping could be a long distance on the Ocean. So we also need to wax on the surface and sometimes wrap the mini diggers around to prevent them from being rusted.
You must be wondering where your goods are now and then after the ship starts. Then you can track your mini excavator on this site. You can easily find where it is by inputting the container number or BL number.
Warranty, After-sales Service
Chinese mini excavator manufacturers sometimes also offer after-sale services overseas. However, there are very low chances that they have maintenance partners in that country. During the COVID-9 period, working abroad seems more difficult than ever before. But luckily, they can provide online technical support. As we know, mini diggers usually don’t need installations when they arrive in your hand. With the operation manual, you can easily manage how to operate.
The warranty or after-sales policy of the seller is also an important factor to consider when buying a mini excavator. This will help you to determine what kind of support you can expect from the seller in case there are any problems with the machine.
The mini digger suppliers from China usually provide 1-year warranty. That means they will ensure the machines operated well during this period. After that, if any problems happened, they can provide online technical support. Many spare parts could be purchased in the local places, while some parts need to be couriered to your place. So when you plan to import the mini digger, please take into consideration this point.
The most important is you need to follow the instructions for the daily maintenance. You can read this article for mini digger maintenance. If we can follow the instruction strictly, the mini digger could have a much longer service life.
Other Golden Knowledge Points To Consider When Importing From China
Importing your mini excavators or any other machinery from China may seem a very simple task. However, everything can turn out to be a mess if you don’t know some basic knowledge points. This part of the blog is going to highlight all the important things that you should consider while importing from China.
✔You should make sure that the products are allowed to be legally imported from China. It is due to the fact that some products in China contain special rules. If you don’t know whether your product can be legally imported or not, you can also contact your customs broker. A professional custom broker will always help you in this situation.
✔Make sure that you take the responsibility for shipping costs or do some management regarding it. It totally depends on the intercoms that you are following. You may or may not be responsible for the shipping costs as well as other assumed risks. Sometimes the responsibility goes to the seller for taking care of shipping costs. In this situation, you should keep in touch with your seller. Your shipping costs may include costs such as courier service, international postal service, air freight, or ocean freight depending on the size, weight, and type of your product.
✔Make sure that the information about a product is clear and valid. Not having enough details about your imported products may create a mess for you. Moreover, it is illegal to provide inaccurate value and information about your products.
✔Make sure that you are following the correct customs procedures. At this point, a professional customs broker will help you follow the procedures. When you are buying an excavator to dig, landscape, or clean the snow. It is as important to choose the right customs broker as to choose the right supplier.
✔To save your product from any kind of loss, make sure that you got the insurance for your digging excavator. Product liability insurance is a great way to get your product safely. When you are importing your mini excavator from China, an insurance professional can help you get product liability insurance. Especially, when you are importing heavy hydraulic equipment, there are more chances of destruction. Therefore, you should have product liability insurance.
✔Make sure that you have the right custom bonds. Basically, there are two main types of customs bonds available in the market. It is your duty to ensure that you got the right one. Each of them has its own characteristics when you compare them. If you want to make the import process simpler, you should get a continuous bond. If you have any confusion, you can consult your licensed customs broker to get you the right custom bonds for your machine.
Conclusion:
Importing mini excavators from China is easy but also hard, It can be cost-saving or beneficial for your business if you can know these potential rules. Hope this article brings you what you are concerned about.
There are many manufacturers of mini excavators in China as the above introduced. HIXEN is one of them which could provide the most suitable suggestions for you. If you still have questions, kindly please contact us. We will reply to you within 8 working hours. Hoping for cooperation with you.
