In the first quarter of 2025, data from the General Administration of Customs of China showed that the export volume of truck engine oil filters increased by 37% year-on-year. Among them, the growth rate in the Southeast Asian market reached 52%, and the African market exceeded the threshold of ten million US dollars for the first time. Behind this wave of substitution, China’s manufacturing is reconstructing the pattern of the global supply chain with technological innovation, breaking the two-decade market monopoly of foreign brands such as Mobil and Shell.
The Battle of Breaking Through under the Barriers of Foreign Companies
According to the global commercial vehicle aftermarket research report, foreign brands still occupy 62% of the high-end filter market share, but their price system is facing challenges. The ex-factory price of the spin-on filter produced by a leading enterprise in Hebei, China, is only 43% of that of international brands, and the delivery cycle has been compressed to 7 working days.
“The gross profit margin of foreign brands in the African market is as high as 180%, but Chinese products are rewriting this rule.” Mohamed, Chairman of the Kenya Auto Parts Merchants Association, pointed out that the patented dust-proof structure developed by Chinese factories has extended the service life of the filter element to 800 hours in the Sahara region, while the price is 35% lower than that of similar European products.
Technological Revolution Reconstructs the Dimensions of Competition
The nano-ceramic fiber filter material developed by Zhejiang Ultrafiltration Science and Technology has caused a stir in the industry:
The filtration accuracy has broken through 15 microns, which is 3 times higher than that of traditional materials.
Integrated pressure sensors enable intelligent life warning.
It has passed the 500-hour continuous vibration test of TÜV Rheinland.
“Our intelligent filter element can be connected to the maintenance system via Bluetooth and give a warning two weeks in advance for replacement needs.” The international business director of the company revealed that the product has received orders from 6 Southeast Asian countries, and the installation rate in the bus system of Bangkok, Thailand, has reached 27%.
The filtration accuracy has broken through 15 microns, which is 3 times higher than that of traditional materials.
Integrated pressure sensors enable intelligent life warning.
It has passed the 500-hour continuous vibration test of TÜV Rheinland.
“Our intelligent filter element can be connected to the maintenance system via Bluetooth and give a warning two weeks in advance for replacement needs.” The international business director of the company revealed that the product has received orders from 6 Southeast Asian countries, and the installation rate in the bus system of Bangkok, Thailand, has reached 27%.
Emerging Markets Give Birth to a New Model of Cooperation
The transformation in the Middle East market is the most representative:
Distributors in Dubai have jointly built exclusive brands with Chinese factories.
Developed a bimetallic layer end cap structure for high-temperature working conditions.
Embedded an intelligent installation guidance system in Arabic.
“Through the operation of localized brands, our channel gross profit margin has increased from 18% to 34%.” The financial report shown by the procurement director of the enterprise indicates that its market share in Saudi Arabia has jumped from 7% to 19% within half a year.
Distributors in Dubai have jointly built exclusive brands with Chinese factories.
Developed a bimetallic layer end cap structure for high-temperature working conditions.
Embedded an intelligent installation guidance system in Arabic.
“Through the operation of localized brands, our channel gross profit margin has increased from 18% to 34%.” The financial report shown by the procurement director of the enterprise indicates that its market share in Saudi Arabia has jumped from 7% to 19% within half a year.
Industrial Chain Collaboration Creates New Increment
In Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, the filter testing center jointly built by China and Africa is about to be put into use. This project adopts the model of “Chinese technology + local certification”, which can reduce customs clearance disputes by 30%. Data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products shows that in 2024, for enterprises that adopted the joint brand strategy, the average repurchase rate of overseas customers increased by 41%.
Industry Outlook
“Domestic substitution is not a simple price war, but a reallocation of the value of the industrial chain.” Experts from the Institute of Automotive Industry of Tsinghua University pointed out that when Chinese factories begin to take the lead in formulating the “Filter Test Standard for Tropical Climates” and when African distributors actively request the installation of intelligent monitoring modules, it means that the global aftermarket is entering the era of the “Chinese solution”. With the deepening of the regional collaborative innovation mechanism of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), this wave of substitution may reshape the international auto parts pattern.
Post time: Mar-19-2025