DIAMNIADIO, Senegal, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- In the packed aisles of the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center, about 30 km from Dakar, Senegal's capital, Chinese exhibitors are no longer relying on catalogue sales alone.
At the 11th International Exhibition for Construction and Machinery and the 5th International Electricity, Energy and Renewable Energy Exhibition, both held from Thursday to Saturday, many companies are signaling a push for deeper integration into West Africa's industrial landscape.
On exhibition stands, production-line diagrams and after-sales network plans are increasingly replacing simple price lists. From construction machinery to smart meters, Chinese firms are reshaping their approach on several fronts: local production, more flexible supply chains, and full-lifecycle services.
"MADE LOCALLY" AS RELIABILITY PLEDGE
In the energy sector, Livoltek, a brand affiliated with China's Hexing Group, illustrates the shift. As interest in solar power grows, local buyers say their expectations have become more specific.
"We no longer look only at price, but at how equipment withstands extreme heat and salty air corrosion," said Gaye Dieynaba, marketing manager at Zenil Energy, a Senegalese energy production company. She said that Chinese inverters and meters are gaining ground thanks to more mature technology and compatibility with remote monitoring systems.
Hexing attributes the development to an increasingly fine-grained understanding of local conditions. "About 70 to 80 percent of residential meters in Senegal are based on our technologies," said Lu Zhi, Hexing's sales director.
To consolidate that position, the company has moved toward local production through a joint venture with Senegal's national electricity utility SENELEC in the Diamniadio Industrial Park. The aim, he said, is to embed Chinese technology more firmly into the country's power infrastructure.
"A LA CARTE" OFFERING
Beyond technology, real estate developers point to the adaptability of Chinese suppliers.
Ndongo Niang, director at Senegalese construction and real estate development company SOCABEG, compared the Chinese approach to an "a la carte" service.
"Whether we need high-end sanitary ware or affordable tiles, Chinese suppliers tailor solutions to each budget. That flexibility allows us to serve every customer segment," he said.
This ability to customize products is accompanied by a broader reshaping of Chinese manufacturers' on-the-ground presence in Africa, as companies seek to turn speed of response into a lasting competitive edge.
That is the strategy cited by China Lesso Group, a major piping manufacturer, which says it is moving beyond container shipments to build a regional footprint. For Liu Xintao, the company's sales manager in Senegal, the challenge lies in navigating logistical constraints alongside standards and compliance requirements.
By leveraging production bases already operating in other African countries such as Tanzania and Angola, the group is building a geographical network intended to serve the wider region.
"We are not just selling pipes anymore; we are building a rapid-response system designed for the complexity of local markets," Liu said.
The same push for proximity is shared by smaller, more agile players. According to Shandong Hungthai Metal Technology Co., Ltd., it has identified what it calls a booming "roofing economy" in West Africa. With color-coated steel sheets becoming a basic material for both individual housing and industrial warehouses, the company plans to move closer to construction sites to "shorten the logistics radius" and respond to fast-rising urban demand.
END OF "ONE-SHOT" ERA
The most visible shift may be in heavy trucks. Wang Yang, a manager at China Railway Seventh Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited, presented new Sinotruk models as a symbol of the company's "second phase" in Senegal.
"As early as 2014, we started shifting from engineering contracts alone to a more diversified business," he said.
"In 2025, Chinese brands captured a dominant share of Senegal's heavy-truck imports, with Sinotruk alone taking nearly 60 percent of the market for heavy haulers, according to industry data," Wang said, attributing the performance to the rollout in Dakar of a "4S" model -- sales, spare parts, service and follow-up -- supported by maintenance workshops, parts inventories and training for local drivers.
The shift, he added, is not only about price competitiveness, but about a reworked service model. In a regional market long shaped by used-vehicle supply chains, Chinese brands are increasingly positioning new vehicles with structured warranties and after-sales support.
"Without after-sales service, a vehicle is a short-term solution; with full support, you enter a long-term partnership," Wang said.
By maintaining a continuous presence, Chinese firms say they are strengthening a trust-based ecosystem and embedding themselves more deeply in West Africa's infrastructure and logistics modernization. Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号