Amid the evolving global economic landscape, China's manufacturing sector continues to fuel growth across multiple market segments. The country's forklift exports in the first five months of 2025 stood out with 209,000 units shipped, marking the 15th consecutive month of monthly export record-breaking. Europe, China's largest market for forklifts, accounted for 34% of total exports, with German exports surging 422%. Asia followed closely at 30%, while Southeast Asia emerged as the growth engine, with Vietnam and Thailand demonstrating double-digit demand expansion.
The global manufacturing recovery has established a robust demand foundation for the forklift market. As industrial production in various countries gradually returns to pre-pandemic levels and even achieves new growth, there has been a significant surge in demand for forklifts in factories and logistics centers. Meanwhile, the upgrading of logistics infrastructure remains a key factor. The continuous emergence of modern logistics parks and smart warehousing facilities has raised higher requirements for the efficiency and intelligence of forklifts. The ongoing advancement of "Belt and Road" project clusters has sparked a wave of infrastructure development along the routes, with numerous construction projects directly stimulating forklift demand. Against this backdrop, Chinese forklifts have stood out with their excellent cost-performance ratio. Compared to domestic prices, Chinese forklifts command a premium in overseas markets, which not only reflects their cost advantages but also demonstrates their competitiveness in the international arena. More importantly, China's technological edge in lithium battery technology has given its forklift industry a competitive advantage in global market competition.
The trend of forklift lithium electrification is accelerating
A notable trend in the forklift industry in recent years has been the accelerated adoption of lithium-ion technology. Traditional lead-acid battery forklifts are being gradually replaced by lithium-ion models. Compared to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion systems offer multiple advantages including faster charging speeds, higher energy density, lower lifecycle costs, greater environmental sustainability, and extended service life. Driven by the urgent need for cost reduction and efficiency improvement in downstream industries like logistics, coupled with continuous policy support for environmental protection and ongoing technological advancements in lithium-ion technology, the market share of lithium-ion forklifts has surged from 9.32% in 2018 to 46.5% in 2023, with significant growth potential remaining.
Market research institutions indicate that the global forklift market is projected to reach $6.84 billion by 2025, with electric forklifts accounting for over 70% of this sector and representing approximately $4.79 billion in market size. As the world's largest forklift producer and consumer, China's annual production is expected to exceed 1.8 million units in 2025, capturing over 45% of the global market. From January to May, sales reached 602,000 units, marking a 9.3% year-on-year increase, with electric forklifts constituting more than 60% of this segment. In the United States and Canada, driven by Industry 4.0 advancements and e-commerce development, electric forklift adoption has surged to 35%, with the market size expected to hit $2 billion by 2025. Across European countries including Germany, the UK, and France, electrification and intelligentization trends are gaining momentum, driving a $1.8 billion market that features over 40% penetration of lithium battery-powered forklifts.
Torphan: Forklift lithium battery solution expert
In the lithium battery revolution for forklifts, Torphan – a 15-year veteran Chinese lithium battery manufacturer and supplier – is playing a pivotal role. Specializing in providing professional lithium battery solutions for international industrial power systems including forklifts, scissor trucks, and golf carts, the company continues to drive innovation in the field.
Torphan boasts a professional team of 15 technical experts with deep industry expertise and extensive practical experience. They can thoroughly understand client needs and tailor the most suitable lithium battery solutions for each customer. Whether it's forklifts requiring high battery endurance and stability in intense working environments, or forklifts and golf carts demanding lightweight batteries with high efficiency, Tofeng's technical team delivers practical solutions through precise technical analysis and innovative design concepts.
Torphan has established a professional sales team that delivers comprehensive services from the moment of customer engagement. The team not only clearly explains the advantages and features of TuoFeng products but also recommends the most suitable models and configurations based on actual usage scenarios. After purchase, sales representatives provide ongoing support to ensure timely resolution of any issues encountered during product use. This one-stop service model allows customers to make informed decisions about TuoFeng products with complete peace of mind.
Torphan firmly believes product quality is the lifeline of a company. Throughout production, they strictly adhere to international quality management systems, ensuring rigorous oversight from raw material procurement and process control to final product inspection. By introducing advanced equipment and technologies while continuously optimizing production workflows, every lithium battery manufactured meets exceptional performance standards and reliable quality benchmarks.
With the sustained growth of forklift exports, the lithium battery market for forklifts is poised for significant expansion. Torphan, leveraging its professional technical team, premium products, and comprehensive services, is actively seizing market opportunities to drive the adoption of lithium batteries in forklifts. If you're seeking a reliable provider of forklift lithium battery solutions, Torphan stands out as your top choice.
About Tophan (Torpahn) For 15 years, Tophan has been dedicated to providing high-reliability lithium batteries for industrial power applications. Its service network covers over 30 countries, with more than 500,000 battery systems delivered to date, powering green transformation in cold chain logistics, manufacturing, and distribution industries.
Media Contact: Rainy | rainy@torphan.com | www.torphanpower.com