Sany president: ‘UK’s excavator anti-dumping measures will only work short term’

That’s the view of Mr. Yu Hong Fu, president of major Chinese construction equipment manufacturer Sany Heavy Industry.

Sany, which has an annual turnover of $10.8 billion and ranks 6th in the latest edition of the Yellow Table, is one of several high-profile Chinese manufacturers to be subject to anti-dumping measures that were introduced by the UK government in May 2025.

They involve tariffs ranging from 18.81% to 40.08% on imports of excavators of Chinese origin weighing in at 11 tonnes to 80 tonnes.

The measures are currently being reconsidered following submissions from another Chinese OEM, LiuGong, and Caterpillar’s Chinese subsidiary. In the meantime, all tariffs, including the 32.82% being levied on Sany machines, remain in place.

The UK government’s action comes after an investigation by the Trade Remedies Authority, following allegations by UK manufacturer JCB that machines were being dumped in the UK at unfairly low prices. It subsequently concluded that Chinese exporters undercut UK prices by an average rate of 23.4% thanks to reduced production costs.

But speaking to Construction Briefing, Sany Heavy Industry president Mr. Yu Hong Fu expressed surprise at the UK government’s decision to proceed with anti-dumping measures.

Mr. Yu Hong Fu, president, Sany Heavy Industry (Image: KHL Group)

“Our first reaction was that it was unexpected and we couldn’t understand it,” he said through an interpreter.

“The UK is definitely a good market for excavators and JCB is one of our competitors. But still, Chinese products only have a very small market share there. We did not enter into the UK market by pricing very low. So we don’t understand the allegations.”

And he suggested that ultimately, the benefit to JCB of the anti-dumping tariffs will prove to be limited.

“If JCB persuaded the UK government into taking this action, we think maybe in the short term it will work, but only in the short term and only for the UK market,” he said.

“Legislation like this cannot protect JCB in other markets around the world.”

He added that he hoped for a level playing field where JCB and its competitors could compete based on the quality of their products, rather than on price.

JCB declined to comment when contacted by Construction Briefing.

In their submissions to the TRA to reconsider its recommendations, LiuGong has claimed that battery electric machines should not be included within the definition of the goods and the tariff imposed by the UK. Caterpillar’s China-based operation Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd. has questioned the TRA’s calculation of the individual anti-dumping amount that was calculated for it, which stands at 18.81%.

Watch out an exclusive interview with Sany president Mr. Yu Hong Fu in a forthcoming issue of Construction Briefing.