Ningbo's Non-Standard Fastener Exports Surge

[Abstract]:In the first half of 2025, amidst intensifying global trade frictions and a slowdown in traditional standard parts exports, Ningbo's fastener industry achieved a remarkable breakthrough.

In the first half of 2025, amidst intensifying global trade frictions and a slowdown in traditional standard parts exports, Ningbo's fastener industry achieved a remarkable breakthrough. The city's total fastener export value reached 8.63 billion yuan, marking an 18.6% year-on-year increase. Notably, the share of non-standard fastener orders surged from 25% in 2024 to 32.3%, becoming the core driver of this export growth. This success is attributed to Ningbo enterprises accurately capturing the customized demands of emerging sectors such as new energy vehicles (NEVs), the low-altitude economy, and high-end medical devices, building differentiated competitive advantages through technological upgrades and service optimization.

Non-standard fasteners are custom-manufactured to meet specific equipment requirements, characterized by high precision, strong technical barriers, and high added value, with unit prices typically 2 to 5 times higher than standard parts. As the nation's largest fastener export base, Ningbo boasts over 2,300 fastener enterprises, 38% of which specialize in non-standard parts, forming a complete industrial chain spanning design, R&D, and production. In the first half of the year, Ningbo's non-standard fastener exports reached 2.79 billion yuan, soaring by 42.8% year-on-year. These products were primarily exported to Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, with NEVs accounting for 45%, medical devices for 22%, and the low-altitude economy for 18%.

The rapid development of NEVs has become the primary engine for the growth of non-standard fasteners. As NEVs advance towards high-voltage fast charging and intelligence, battery packs, motors, and electronic control systems demand customized fasteners that offer "high strength, heat resistance, and lightweight properties." Ningbo Sijin Machinery developed specialized shaped connecting bolts for Tesla's 4680 battery packs using titanium alloy and precision cold heading technology. With tolerances controlled within ±0.01mm, these bolts withstand temperatures of 150℃ and fatigue testing across 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. Priced at 12 yuan per piece—four times that of conventional bolts—they achieved an export volume of 8 million units and an export value of 96 million yuan in the first half of the year. Additionally, Ningbo Yongnian Fastener customized explosion-proof battery pack bolts for the BYD Seal. Integrated with pressure sensing capabilities, these bolts automatically release pressure when internal battery pack pressure exceeds safety thresholds. Having passed German TÜV certification and entered the European NEV supply chain, orders for this product grew by 180% in the first half of the year.

The high-end medical device sector has emerged as the second major growth pole. Medical equipment imposes extremely stringent requirements on the biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and precision of fasteners; for instance, joint bolts for surgical robots require micron-level precision and non-magnetic properties. A specialized enterprise in Ningbo developed precision bolts specifically for medical devices using 316L medical-grade stainless steel. Following electropolishing, the surface roughness achieves Ra0.2μm. Certified under the ISO 13485 medical device quality management system, these bolts are compatible with strong magnetic field environments like MRI machines. With a unit price of 50 yuan, they successfully entered the supply chain of Siemens Healthineers in Germany in the first half of the year, with a monthly supply of 500,000 pieces. Another local enterprise developed absorbable bone screws made from polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable material. These screws fully degrade within the human body in 6 to 12 months, eliminating the need for secondary removal surgery. Having received US FDA approval, they generated 32 million USD in export revenue during the first half of the year.

The rise of the low-altitude economy has created new avenues for growth. With the accelerated commercialization of drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, their fuselages, propellers, and avionics systems require vast quantities of customized fasteners. Ningbo Yihang Fastener developed carbon fiber composite bolts for EHang's EH216-S eVTOL. Weighing 60% less than steel counterparts while achieving a tensile strength of 800MPa, these bolts withstand vibration and impact from strong high-altitude air currents. Certified for airworthiness by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, orders reached 3 million units in the first half of the year, contributing 45 million yuan to export revenue.

To support the development of the non-standard fastener industry, the Ningbo municipal government has introduced several扶持政策, including a 20% subsidy for corporate R&D investment, a 500,000 yuan reward for products obtaining international high-end certifications, and the establishment of public technical service platforms for non-standard fasteners. It is projected that for the full year of 2025, Ningbo's non-standard fastener exports will exceed 6 billion yuan, raising their share of the city's total fastener exports to 35% and serving as a core force driving the industry's transformation toward high-end and differentiated manufacturing.

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Ningbo's Non-Standard Fastener Exports Surge

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