Chinese construction machinery has rapidly expanded its presence in the Russian market in recent years due to its high quality and performance.
According to the National Association of Builders of Russia, which gathered procurement data from over 104,000 construction firms nationwide, Chinese equipment valued at 1.4 trillion rubles (about 15.4 billion U.S. dollars) was imported into Russia in the past year alone.
Anton Glushkov, president of the association, noted that the combined share of the two leading Chinese suppliers to the Russian market, Sany and XCMG, has jumped from less than 50 percent in 2022 to around 85 percent today.
According to a department manager at a company supplying construction and specialized equipment in Russia, Chinese machines are in high demand among their clients due to exceptional technical reliability.
"Many companies operate those construction machines around the clock, logging 8,000 to 12,000 engine hours annually. This means that those machines have a technical availability rate of nearly 99.9 percent. They can work 24/7 without unscheduled repairs," said Dmitry Zhiyanov, department manager of a local company supplying construction and specialized equipment.
Chinese construction machinery now offers a broad range of models that meet the demands of even the most complex and large-scale projects.
"In financial terms, sales of construction equipment from Asia grew from 50 billion rubles in 2020 to 350 billion rubles in 2023. Meanwhile, the market share of Chinese brands has surged from 22 percent in 2020 to over 88 percent," said Ekaterina Khafizova, head of an organizing committee for construction exhibitions in the Sverdlovsk Region.
In addition, Chinese companies are deepening partnerships with local Russian firms, aiming to develop tailor-made equipment better suited to local conditions and project demands.
Chinese construction machinery sees increasing share in Russian market
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
