China's Autonomous Mining Trucks Cross 8,500 Units as Mining Automation Moves Toward Global Export

Highlights

• China shipped nearly 8,500 unmanned mining trucks by June 2026, with 10,000 units expected by year-end as orders accelerate.
• Zijin Mining's electric mining-truck fleet reached 1,314 units, up 76.9% year-over-year, including 60+ autonomous trucks at its Julong Copper Mine.
• Chinese suppliers Sany and Bolai Technology are exporting autonomous systems to South America and Australia, backed by Rio Tinto, CITIC and Xiamen Tungsten investment.
• China's automation push compresses labor costs and could extend Beijing's mineral advantage into the technology used to extract critical minerals globally.