China pushes water tech exports as domestic water security becomes a strategic priority

Chinese firms are capitalising on the Belt and Road Initiative to sell desalination membranes, filtration hardware and engineering services to countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Tanzania. Export value of water-purification machinery climbed to over US$2 billion in 2025, a 25% rise since 2020, with Vontron Technology delivering more than 30,000 membranes enough for 300,000 tonnes of daily capacity. At home, water security has become a strategic focus, with annual spending topping ¥1.2 trillion, now outpacing the central military budget.

Climate-driven glacier loss in Tibet and severe groundwater over-extraction have prompted warnings of “peak water” by 2050, threatening half of Asia’s GDP. New regulations under the Five-Year Plan treat water as a pillar of national security, and the government aims to boost the share of recycled, desalinated and rain-water supplies. Saudi developer Acwa plans to invest up to US$30 billion in China and expects Chinese equipment makers to match global standards within a few years, signaling confidence in China’s emerging role as a leading exporter of water-security solutions.