2025-04-01 BY
IN Company News
Under the impetus of the restructuring of the global industrial chain, the explosion of digital technology, and the goal of carbon neutrality, the foreign trade of the industrial control industry is standing at a crossroads of transformation. From “Made in China” to “Intelligently Made in China”, how can industrial control enterprises seize the key opportunities in the next decade? This article combines global trends with typical cases to deeply analyze the five core development directions of industrial control foreign trade.
  1. Digital Transformation: From “Hardware Export” to “Intelligent Services”
    The competition in the industrial control industry has shifted from single equipment to an ecological system of “hardware + software + services”. According to customs data, in 2024, the export value of China’s mechanical and electrical products accounted for nearly 60%, among which high-tech products such as industrial robots and automation control systems grew significantly. For example, Gotion High-Tech, a subsidiary of Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holding Group, has not only exported lithium battery technology but also provided intelligent production management solutions through its cooperation with Turkey to build a battery factory, achieving a deep binding of the industrial chain.
Future Trends:
Going Global with Industrial Internet Platforms: Enterprises need to package and export capabilities such as equipment networking, data analysis, and remote operation and maintenance, forming a “subscription service” model.
Cross-border E-commerce and Digital Marketing: Through AI-driven foreign trade customer acquisition systems (such as the PinTui Technology platform), accurately locate the needs of overseas customers and shorten the transaction chain.
  1. The Green Industrial Revolution: Carbon Neutrality Spurs New Tracks
    Policies such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are forcing industrial control enterprises to transform towards low-carbon. In 2025, green technology products (such as new energy equipment and energy-saving motors) will become the main driving force for foreign trade growth. For example, the unmanned aerial vehicles of EHang are applied to urban transportation and emergency logistics in Spain, and their low-carbon attributes meet the green transformation needs of Europe, with the order volume increasing by 20% annually.
Opportunities and Challenges:
Export of New Energy Equipment: The demand for photovoltaic inverters and energy storage systems is surging, but enterprises need to deal with the technical certification barriers of the EU.
Circular Economy Model: Promote equipment leasing, recycling, and remanufacturing of used parts to reduce the access costs of overseas markets.
  1. Supply Chain Restructuring: Regionalization and Localization in Parallel
    Geopolitical risks are driving the supply chain to shift from “globalization” to “nearshoring”. Industrial control enterprises need to lay out production and warehousing nodes around their target markets. For example, GAC Group has built transfer warehouses in Europe and plans to establish a service network covering the whole of Europe by 2028 to reduce the risks of logistics fluctuations.
Strategic Suggestions:
Regional Production: Set up assembly plants in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, taking advantage of the local low-cost labor force and tariff preferences.
Supply Chain Resilience Building: Achieve supply chain transparency through blockchain technology to cope with the risk of sudden supply chain disruptions.
  1. Brand Internationalization: From “Hidden Champions” to “Global Brands”
    Chinese industrial control enterprises are shifting from OEM production to the export of their own brand products. Xpeng Motors, with its intelligent technology, topped the Spanish electric vehicle market in just four months, confirming the successful path of the dual drive of “technology + brand”.
Key Actions:
Localized Operation: Integrate into the local industrial chain. For example, WeRide has cooperated with Renault to carry out autonomous driving services in Barcelona, enhancing brand recognition through technical cooperation.
Cultural Adaptation: Customize the appearance and functions of products for different markets. For example, equipment needs to have enhanced high-temperature resistance in the Middle East, and environmental protection certifications are emphasized in Europe.
  1. Policy Dividends and Risk Hedging
    China continues to promote high-level opening up, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Belt and Road Initiative provide institutional guarantees for industrial control foreign trade. In 2024, the number of China-Europe freight trains increased by 25.3%, opening up a new land route for equipment exports. However, geopolitical conflicts and trade protectionism remain major challenges.
Response Strategies:
Diversified Markets: Expand into emerging markets such as ASEAN and Latin America to reduce dependence on Europe and the United States.
Policy-based Insurance: Use export credit insurance to cover political risks and ensure the safety of overseas accounts receivable.
Conclusion: The Decisive Key in the Next Decade
The competition in the foreign trade of the industrial control industry is essentially a competition of technological iteration, ecological integration, and global resource allocation capabilities. Enterprises need to take digital transformation as the cornerstone, green innovation as the engine, and localization strategies as the bridge to build a dual moat of “hard technology + soft power“. Just as demonstrated by the cluster “going global” of Guangzhou enterprises – only by actively integrating into the global value chain can one ride the waves and move forward in the vast sea.