Global demand for plastic welding equipment surges, and Chinese companies seize emerging markets through cross-border e-commerce
The production efficiency of plastic corrugated pipe welding machines is three times that of ordinary equipment, but overseas orders are still scheduled for three months later.
In the workshop of Qingdao Fulewei Machinery Technology Co., Ltd., a batch of new plastic welding equipment is being packaged and shipped. Zhang Yingying, the head of the company, just sent off the Jordanian customers and hurried back to the production line to supervise the progress: “We have received 20 foreign trade orders this year, with an output value of 4.8 million yuan in January, and products have been sold to 67 countries and regions.”2
This is not an isolated case. According to data from Alibaba International Station, the global buyer scale index of plastic welding equipment has reached 41.08 in the past 90 days. Turkey, China, and the United States are among the top three purchasing countries, while the number of visits from buyers in Denmark, Malta and other countries has shown explosive growth in the past 60 days. 1
01 New forces in the industry, new cross-border blue ocean
Plastic welding equipment, a seemingly unpopular mechanical category, is setting off a purchasing boom on global cross-border e-commerce platforms. In the popularity list of the chemical and pharmaceutical machinery industry released by Alibaba International Station’s “Data Consultant” platform, plastic welding equipment ranks first in the Argentine market1.
The industry’s warming is driven by multiple factors. During the epidemic, overseas consumption habits changed, and the demand for home DIY repairs surged, and small mechanical equipment ushered in development opportunities. At the same time, the demand for intelligent remote control equipment in the industrial field has continued to grow, driving welding equipment to evolve in the direction of high technology. 13
The market structure is quietly changing. The welding tool market, which has traditionally been monopolized by European and American brands, is now emerging with Chinese brands such as YesWelder. They entered the market at a price only 20% of European and American big brands, developed easy-to-operate welding equipment for novice home users, and quickly rose in the North American market. 7
02 Technological breakthrough of Chinese manufacturing
The core of the global popularity of Chinese plastic welding equipment lies in technological innovation breakthroughs. Taking Qingdao Fulewei Machinery as an example, its main product can produce 30 meters of plastic corrugated pipes per minute, and its production efficiency is three times that of ordinary equipment. 2
This technological advantage makes Chinese equipment extremely competitive in overseas markets. The YesWelder brand has performed particularly well on the Amazon platform: its welding machine products often occupy five of the top ten BSRs, and some single products have monthly sales of more than 3,000 units, with a customer unit price of US$138-504. 7
Chinese companies have also integrated personalized design into industrial products. YesWelder invited tattoo artists to design welding cap decals, turning cold tools into “trendy toys”. This innovative thinking has enabled it to gain 100,000 fans on social media platforms, even more than many traditional American brands. 7
03 Cross-border e-commerce has become the main channel for going overseas
Cross-border e-commerce has become the core channel for plastic welding equipment to go overseas. Shandong companies took the lead in exploring new models, solving the logistics problems of small batch orders through “market procurement + cross-border e-commerce LCL export”. Plastic products and hand tools worth US$90,000 were sent to Southeast Asia through this model, reducing corporate logistics costs by more than 30%. 8
In July 2025, the Shopee Jiangmen Industrial Belt Matchmaking Conference will target metal products and household goods companies. Its full-hosting model has become a new engine for cross-border overseas expansion with a year-on-year growth rate of 75 times, allowing enterprises to focus on product supply and leave operations, logistics, and after-sales to the platform. 4
“Through these platforms recommended by the government, we can carry out multi-channel layout. More channels can better sell goods abroad.” Lai Zhiyun, general manager of Jiangmen Xinyi Spice Co., Ltd., expressed the voice of his peers. This “cross-border e-commerce + industrial belt” precise docking model is helping small and medium-sized enterprises to quickly open up emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America. 4
04 The code of successful people going overseas
From OEM to cross-border brand, YesWelder’s transformation path is a textbook. After the brand was founded in 2018, it entered Amazon in 2019 and accumulated the first batch of seed users with its cost-effective strategy. In 2022, the company’s revenue exceeded 500 million yuan, and the single-day sales of the independent station during Black Friday even exceeded the Amazon platform. 7
Frederick Good Gift Trading Company chose a differentiated technology route. General Manager Qu Guanjie revealed: “We focus on the research and development of 3D printing technology and are shifting our strategic focus to the Southeast Asian market. With the help of Shopee to build a cross-border sales network, we are expected to achieve a breakthrough in overseas sales.” 4
Shandong Longguang Tianxu Solar Energy Company opened up the Central Asian market by solving local pain points. In response to the problem of unstable voltage in Uzbekistan, it launched a combination of “photovoltaic panels + energy storage batteries”. Last year, local sales exceeded one million US dollars and are expected to double this year. 2
05 Challenges and responses under trade changes
Global trade policy fluctuations bring new challenges. In May 2025, the European Union abolished the tax-free policy for parcels below 150 euros and imposed a handling fee of 2 euros per direct mail parcel. WTO data shows that 169 new trade restrictions were introduced worldwide within a year, affecting trade volume of 887.7 billion US dollars. 6
Feishu Shennuo’s research shows that 75% of small and medium-sized sellers are highly sensitive to changes in European and American policies, and 85% of companies expect costs to rise. Logistics cost pressure is the most prominent and has become the biggest pain point in the industry. 6
The response strategy is already in practice. Leading companies ease logistics pressure through the “forward overseas warehouse” model. Hangzhou Shengdeyi Company established a 12,000 square meter cross-border logistics warehouse in Jiande, replicating the operating experience of Australia’s overseas warehouses and shortening the delivery cycle by more than 50%. 3
The latest batch of intelligent plastic welding equipment is being debugged on the production line of Qingdao Fulewei Machinery. These devices that integrate IoT technology can monitor welding temperature and pressure in real time and remotely control operations through mobile phone APPs. It is this kind of innovative products that have tripled the orders of Chinese companies in the Danish market in two months12.
In the workshop of Furui Haoli Trading Company far away in Jiangmen, 3D printed plastic welding gun accessories are being packed and boxed. General Manager Qu Guanjie checked the goods sent to Shopee’s Malaysia warehouse: “It used to take half a month to put small orders together. Now, with the “market procurement + cross-border e-commerce” consolidation model, we can put together a cabinet and send it to ASEAN in three days.