JINAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- On the factory floor of Shandong Tavol Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. in the city of Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, workers assemble and test tractors destined for overseas markets.

"This batch of 150 tractors is mainly bound for Europe, South America and Africa," said Liu Mingqian, the company's general manager.

Founded in 2021, Tavol manufactures tractors and other agricultural machinery and has quickly built an export-oriented business with quality and customized products. Its products have been sold to over 100 countries and regions and exports now account for more than 80 percent of its revenue.

A tractor designed for the Brazilian market is equipped with assisted driving and satellite-guided systems, enabling operations with an error margin of about one centimeter in over 100 meters, according to technical director Liang Yuqiang.

Tavol reflects the broader growth of China's agricultural machinery exports in recent years, driven by rising demand for mechanization in developing countries, with shipments surging 32.3 percent year on year to 67.4 billion yuan in 2025, according to customs data.

As countries seek to modernize farming and boost yields, the global demand is shifting toward more efficient, intelligent and adaptable agricultural machinery.

China's innovation in the sector has given it a competitive edge. The country has long prioritized innovation in agricultural technology and equipment amid its efforts to develop new quality productive forces in agriculture.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) calls for promoting high-quality development in the agricultural machinery and equipment sector and enhancing agricultural efficiency by integrating better farmland, seeds, machinery and farming practices.

Weichai Lovol, a leading domestic manufacturer, operates a smart factory for high-horsepower tractors where automated production lines use Internet-of-Things systems to monitor and control around a thousand quality parameters in real time. Welding robots equipped with vision systems ensure precision, while big-data platforms track the entire assembly process.

New technology-powered machinery is being widely deployed, including BeiDou-guided high-horsepower tractors capable of centimeter-level precision, pneumatic precision planters that boost efficiency and drones that are revolutionizing field management.

Chinese companies are tailoring products to local conditions overseas. Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. has modified rice harvesters for Uganda's rainy harvest season to reduce crop losses, while other firms have adapted machinery to withstand sandstorms or improve performance in Southeast Asia's muddy paddy fields.

Apart from machinery exports, Chinese firms are increasingly offering integrated services.

"We have built sales and service networks across multiple countries and trained local technicians to ensure the equipment can operate reliably and be easily maintained," said Zhang Qi, sales manager of Shandong Shonly Modern Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd., whose tractors sell well in markets such as Africa and South America. "Meanwhile, we also tailor our products to local conditions."

Xeme Airline Technology (Shandong) Group Co., Ltd. has signed a contract with a cotton farm in Kazakhstan covering not only agricultural drone supply but also software support, pilot training and personnel management.

Fan Jianhua, president of the China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association, said Chinese manufacturers are expected to further expand overseas with upgraded products and strengthened spare parts networks, training systems and after-sales services. ■