Skip to main content
Pro Plus

Policy, Protectionism and Pressure: Inside India’s Construction Equipment Downturn

India’s construction equipment sector faces a tough battle as it takes on cheaper imports from China and a slowdown in government infrastructure spending.

Shahkar AbidiBy Shahkar Abidi calendar 09 Feb 2026 Views icon11313 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp
Policy, Protectionism and Pressure: Inside India’s Construction Equipment Downturn

Something clandestine unfolded at Mumbai's busy Indira Dock in the intervening night of October 31 and November 1. Customs inspectors, on a routine check, spotted three Chinese wheel loaders in an open yard, imported by an Indian firm. Each carried a QR code declaring a payload of 7,000 kilograms, the upper limit for triggering safeguard duties on such machines from China.

By the next day, the codes had vanished. In their place: markings for 7,100 kilograms, just enough to dodge the tariffs. Wheel loaders, with their front-mounted buckets on lift arms, are workhorses for construction sites and mines. Investigating ...

This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.

STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH THE LATEST NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHTS INTO INDIA'S EXPANDING AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOCAR PRO PLUS

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

$39.00

  • Unlimited Access to Pro Plus articles
  • Features and Insights
  • Opinions and Analysis
  • Pro Plus Newsletter
  • Multi-Device Accessibility

RELATED ARTICLES

JCB India Targets Farm Logistics, Bridging the Gap Between Tractors and Backhoes

auther Shahkar Abidi calendar29 Sep 2026

JCB India eyes a 20,000-unit addressable agri-handling market to formalize farm-gate logistics with factory-built altern...

Pro Plus

Wired for Growth

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar27 Sep 2026

How a simple, highly personal mark of responsibility forged a legendary alliance with Bajaj Auto and built a multi-billi...

Pro Plus

How CAMSO Is Reshaping CEAT’s Specialty Tyre Business

auther Darshan Nakhwa calendar23 Sep 2026

The CAMSO acquisition gives CEAT access to construction tyres, tracks and new global customers as its Ambernath plant p...