China Imposes Export Controls on Tunnel Boring Machines, Indian Media Expresses Concern Over Infrastructure Tunnel Projects
The Ministry of Commerce of China issued four announcements on Monday, detailing the optimization and adjustment of export controls on drone-related items; the imposition of export restrictions on tunnel boring machines and other related items; the optimization and adjustment of export controls on dredging vessel-related items; and further refinements to procedures concerning inquiries and identification of dual-use items.
According to available information, a tunnel boring machine—officially known as a full-face tunnel boring machine—is a large-scale automated construction machinery used for underground tunnel excavation. The Economic Times of India reported that China’s export restrictions on tunnel boring machines and associated equipment could affect multiple infrastructure projects in India, including metro systems, high-speed rail lines, and various tunnel engineering initiatives, particularly in border regions.
The report noted that in recent years, China has restricted exports of tunnel boring machines to India. In 2024, Piyush Goyal, then Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, informed Robert Habeck, then German Vice Chancellor, that Beijing had blocked a German company—manufacturing tunnel boring machines in China—from exporting its products to India.
According to Reuters, data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database indicate that in 2025, China exported tunneling equipment and self-propelled coal or rock excavators valued at approximately USD 793 million. China remains one of the primary suppliers of tunnel boring machines and other drilling equipment used in subway and highway construction.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879528554809347/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publisher.