Full Breakdown
China Expands Export Controls to Include Tunnel-Boring Machines, Impacting India’s Infrastructure Projects
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
- On October 19, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced export controls on tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) and related items, effective November 18, 2026. Exporters must obtain licences under China’s export-control law.
Background & Context
- TBMs are essential for metro-rail lines, highway tunnels and border projects. India has relied on Chinese-made TBMs; customs delays began in 2024.
- In October 2024, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal raised the issue with German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck after China blocked export of German-made TBMs assembled in China.
- The announcement follows a draft released on October 16, 2026 that adds more than 40 technologies—including AI, biotech and solar manufacturing—to China’s export-control catalogue.
Timeline
- 2024 – Customs delays for TBM imports to India start.
- October 2024 – Goyal raises TBM export issue with German officials.
- October 16, 2026 – Draft catalogue covering 40 technologies unveiled.
- October 19, 2026 – Controls on TBMs, walking excavators and plateau-type wet shotcrete machines announced; effective November 18, 2026.
- November 15, 2026 – Public consultation on the draft catalogue closes.
Data & Statistics
- UN Comtrade shows China exported about $793 million in self-propelled coal or rock cutters and tunnelling machinery in 2025.
- The list includes full-face, earth-pressure-balance and slurry-shield TBMs, plus cutterheads, segment erectors and main-drive systems.
- Walking excavators capable of surmounting obstacles > 1.2 m and fording water > 1.5 m are covered.
- Plateau-type wet shotcrete machines for altitudes > 3,000 m with engine power > 75 kW are added.
Why It Matters / Impact
- India’s metro-rail expansions and border-area tunnelling projects could face delays or cost overruns if licences are denied or processing slows.
- The controls illustrate China’s use of dual-use export restrictions as a geopolitical lever, echoing earlier blocks of German-origin TBMs destined for India.
- German-based Herrenknecht announced a new production line in India after Chinese customs impeded its shipments.
Official Statements & Responses
- A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said the items “have clear dual-use characteristics” and that the controls are “consistent with international common practice” while safeguarding national security.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Indian planners report several metro-rail contracts already face “customs clearance and delays” for imported TBMs, inflating timelines and budgets.
- German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann told ThePrint that at least three Herrenknecht TBMs were held up in Chinese customs for “political reasons” before reaching India.
What’s Next
- Licence applications for TBMs and related equipment must be submitted before November 18, 2026; approvals will be evaluated case-by-case.
- The public consultation on the broader catalogue ends on November 15, 2026, after which final rules will be published.
- India is expected to accelerate domestic TBM development and explore alternative suppliers to mitigate future supply-chain risks.