Ningbo Garden Machinery Gains Global Traction as Innovation Fuels Export Surge

Correspondents: Wu Huang and Wang Junjie

With the New Year holidays just concluded, garden machinery manufacturers in Ningbo are ramping up production to meet growing overseas demand, preparing for the upcoming export peak. A case in point is Ningbo Aosheng Machine Co., Ltd., where close to forty injection molding machines are operating at full tilt. Inside its workshop, the fully automated process, from precise material dosing to injection molding, runs seamlessly. The finished smart lawn mowers, after passing rigorous quality checks, are set for shipment to Europe and other international markets.

Aosheng Machine is a high-tech enterprise that integrates R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service, with a focus on gasoline engines, agricultural machinery, crop protection equipment, and garden machinery. Buoyed by the performance and environmental edge of its product line, including lithium-powered trimmers and smart lawn mowers, the company has seen steady growth in overseas orders. This has driven exports to account for over 90 percent of total sales, with its products now reaching customers across Southeast Asia, South America, Europe, and beyond.

"Even with competition getting tougher worldwide, we've managed to keep our export growth steady. A big part of that is thanks to the targeted help from local government and Customs - things like policy walkthroughs and guidance on smoother Customs procedures. That support has been crucial for our overseas growth,” noted Yang Yan, Office Manager of Ningbo Aosheng Machine Co., Ltd. “In fact, our orders were up about 10 percent year-on-year in the first eleven months of 2025."

Aosheng Machine’s sustained commitment to innovation is the key driver behind the strong overseas sales of its products. In recent years, the company has consistently allocated 5 percent of its annual output value to R&D, focusing on cutting-edge areas such as AI-driven manufacturing, the use of sustainable materials, and robotic automation. This investment has enabled it to develop a broad portfolio spanning ten major series and over 60 models, which serve residential, commercial, and municipal markets. Furthermore, the company maintains a robust product refresh cycle, introducing 5 to 10 new models each year. In parallel, by advancing the digital and intelligent transformation of its production system, including the introduction of automated assembly lines and smart management systems, the company has achieved end-to-end digital control. This comprehensive upgrade has boosted production efficiency by approximately 30 percent, significantly reduced product defect rates, and further enhanced market responsiveness.

An equally busy scene unfolds at Ningbo Cuike Machinery Co Ltd. Inside its workshop, automated robotic arms move with fluid precision as workers concentrate on assembling a batch of ride-on lawn mowers, all operating at full throttle to meet delivery deadlines. This operational intensity stems from the company's success as a Sino-foreign high-tech joint venture. Its products have gained strong traction across Europe, South America, and the Middle East, driven by persistent R&D and innovation in smart garden machinery.

"Since the second half of 2025, we've been running flat out to keep up with demand. Our production lines haven't had a break, especially with orders from Belt and Road partner countries coming in strong,” explained a representative of Ningbo Cuike Machinery. “We're looking at an annual output value topping 600 million yuan for 2025, that would be a jump of around 30 percent compared to the year before."

The robust performance of Ningbo's garden machinery sector, marked by strong production and sales, stems from a dual dynamic: the innovative shift from traditional manufacturing to "intelligent manufacturing," and the proactive, tailored support provided by Ningbo Customs. Actually, the authority has been instrumental in providing services such as policy briefings and consultations on technical barriers to trade (TBT). For example, to help exporters navigate differing technical standards, safety certifications, and environmental rules across key markets such as Belt and Road and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), Ningbo Customs proactively identifies, analyzes, and issues early warnings on these technical barriers. Through specialized training and targeted policy updates, it helps local companies navigate these complexities, mitigate risks, and ensure smoother export flows. Going a step further, Ningbo Customs conducts proactive outreach, providing “Customized Enterprise-Specific Solutions” to help companies overcome real-time export challenges such as product classification, technical compliance and rules of origin. This tailored support gives companies a clear understanding of the key requirements for entering international markets. These dual drivers have yielded tangible results in the trade data: from January to November 2025, Ningbo's shipments of agricultural and garden machinery totaled approximately 3.61 billion yuan, marking a robust 23.9 percent increase year-on-year. Growth was even more pronounced in strategic markets, with exports to Belt and Road partner countries and CEECs rising by 28.1 percent and 26.6 percent, respectively.