China electric truck exports surge amid rising regional fuel costs

China’s exports of electric heavy trucks to Asian markets have surged, driven by rising diesel prices resulting from the conflict in Iran. In the four months following the start of the war on February 28, Chinese heavy e-truck exports more than doubled year-on-year to 16,823 vehicles.

Shipments have seen significant growth in South and Southeast Asia, with South Asian exports increasing more than fivefold and Southeast Asian shipments nearly tripling. The regional shift toward electrification is being accelerated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused major spikes in diesel costs. For instance, diesel prices have risen 48% in Sri Lanka and 57% in the Philippines since the conflict began.

Zhaoting Yue, vice president of international marketing at Sany, noted that the war has opened doors to these new markets. Sany, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric heavy trucks, is pivoting its focus toward Southeast Asia and developing more affordable models. While current export volumes remain small compared to Chinese cars and motorcycles, the rapid adoption of e-trucks in China—which reached 30% of truck sales last year—suggests significant potential for reducing diesel consumption and carbon emissions across the region.