Recently, according to the "Nikkei," due to the tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump that have hindered imports, drones produced by DJI Innovation are disappearing from the shelves of U.S. e-commerce platforms.

Photo source: Nikkei

According to the report, all drone series including Mavic, Air, and Mini are sold out in DJI's online store. When asked by the Japanese media, DJI Innovation stated that market conditions and tariff policies have made it difficult for the company to ensure inventory or import in the United States.

Main e-commerce websites and electronics retailers are also experiencing shortages. According to local reports, DJI Innovation products are hard to find, and some products are even sold at prices higher than the listed price.

DJI produces drones in China and exports them. Its products are still sold in online stores outside the United States, including China and Japan. The company said it will continue to value the U.S. market and is considering all possible solutions, but has not yet determined a specific timetable.

In May this year, DJI decided to delay the release of its latest flagship model, the Mavic 4 Pro, in the United States. The company said at the time that it would continue to participate in the U.S. market and sell existing products.

The U.S. government stated in late 2024 that it would conduct a security investigation on DJI drones within one year. However, no specific investigating body has been designated yet. DJI expressed concerns that unless the investigation is conducted, it would be unable to sell drones in the United States.

From mapping, surveying, to delivery and public safety, drones are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. As of January 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that the number of registered drones in the United States reached 863,728. Among them, 352,222 were used for commercial purposes, and 506,635 were used for recreational purposes. The FAA expects that by 2026, the number of commercial drones could increase to 858,000.

Data from the global market research and data analysis company Morder Intelligence predicts that the North American drone market size is estimated to be 14.29 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and is expected to reach 27.16 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.70% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Photo source: Morder Intelligence

Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows that DJI drones hold a 90% share in the U.S. commercial market. It is expected that this proportion will remain difficult to challenge in the short term as demand for drones increases in agriculture, construction, maritime, and industrial sectors.

This is not the first time the U.S. government has targeted Chinese companies. In 2019, the U.S. initiated a ban on Chinese government agency drones under the U.S. Drone Security Act. However, as of July 2020, according to data from the market research company Drone Industry Insights, DJI remained the top in terms of drone market share, accounting for 76.1%.

A marketing officer from Zephyr Drone Simulator, a U.S. company that specializes in developing training programs using drones, also pointed out that most of their public safety department clients use DJI drones. No U.S. company can produce a quantity of drones comparable to DJI, and some products labeled as "made in the USA" are actually produced by Chinese companies.

Photo source: Drone Industry Insights

The officer said worriedly, "If DJI is banned, it would be a problem for all public safety agencies in the United States."

DJI Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "DJI") was established on November 6, 2006, with a registered capital of 30 million yuan. Since its establishment, DJI has expanded from a drone system to a diversified product system. DJI's headquarters is located in Shenzhen, with offices in many places around the world, and its business spans over 100 countries and regions.

DJI's founder and chairman, Wang Tao, was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang in 1980. He studied electronic engineering at East China Normal University and graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In 2006, while continuing his postgraduate studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Wang Tao and two classmates who were working on the same graduation project officially founded DJI, researching and producing helicopter flight control systems.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7526848854457696807/

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