Machinery, materials, industrial development and supply chains
Chinese customs data shows trade with 23 Middle East and North Africa countries reached $329.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026. Crude oil imports from the region fell 38.6% year-on-year amid shipping frictions, while passenger vehicle exports totaled $15.9 billion.
China's push to export its J-35 stealth fighter faces complex technical and security hurdles due to buyers' existing defense ties with the US, according to a South China Morning Post analysis. While Pakistan is the primary prospective buyer, Middle Eastern partners like the UAE also face delicate balances between Chinese hardware and US security frameworks. The UAE already operates Chinese L-15 trainer aircraft and shelved an American F-35 deal in 2021 over similar technology-safeguard tensions.
Chinese manufacturers are scaling up exports of desalination membranes, filtration machinery, and engineering services to countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. China exported more than $2 billion worth of water filtering and purifying equipment in 2025, driven by heavy domestic investment in water security. Gulf utilities are increasingly sourcing components from Chinese suppliers, with Saudi developer ACWA Power buying roughly 70 percent of its global water equipment from China.
At the 28th WETEX in Dubai, Schneider Electric shared findings from an IDC white paper on the adoption of SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear. The research shows 14% of Middle East organisations have begun transitioning away from SF₆, with 99% anticipating regulation within five years. Globally, 73% of buyers indicated utility guidance directs their equipment procurement choices.
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