Many developments have led to the decline of hardware locks
August 29 02:30:22, 2025
The lock industry in China has experienced significant transformation over recent years, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer demands. While traditional mechanical locks still hold a place in the market, the shift toward high-end, smart, and technologically advanced locking systems is accelerating. Currently, middle-to-high-end lock products have become the mainstream in the market, but domestic manufacturers are still lagging behind their international counterparts in terms of brand recognition, product quality, and innovation.
According to Luo Baihui, a senior researcher at Jinmo Security Network, there is substantial potential for growth in the domestic hardware lock market. To enhance competitiveness, Chinese companies must focus on strengthening brand awareness, improving product quality, and advancing production technologies. This will not only help them compete more effectively in the domestic market but also position themselves better in the global arena.
In recent years, the lock market in China has seen a remarkable boom, with the total market size reaching 70 billion yuan. Provinces like Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shanghai, and Shandong have become key manufacturing hubs, characterized by industrial clusters that drive growth through large-scale production and export. These clusters show strong momentum, with high sales volumes, rapid export growth, and increasing international market share, especially in the high-end lock segment.
China's annual lock sales now exceed 2.2 billion units, with a growing demand for fingerprint locks—around 5 million units per year—used in sectors such as finance, military, and office environments. The civilian market is also expanding, with both traditional mechanical locks and modern electronic and access control systems seeing increased adoption. The entire industry is moving forward rapidly, driven by technological progress and rising consumer expectations.
The lock industry in China is booming, with annual sales surpassing 400 billion yuan and production capacity exceeding 2 billion sets. Exports have also grown significantly, reaching over 10 billion yuan annually. Industry experts predict that the market will continue to expand at a rate of over 20% per year in the coming years.
With this growth, the future of the lock market looks promising. The diversity of lock types and the richness of the market highlight the need for continued development. Building labor-intensive, specialized, and high-end industries is essential for China’s long-term success in the global lock market.
To achieve sustainable growth, companies must focus on improving product standards, adopting a market-oriented approach, adjusting product structures, and investing in R&D for new materials and technologies. Establishing strong, influential brands will be crucial in capturing a larger share of the high-value market.
Recent economic conditions, along with the rapid development of real estate and related industries, have further boosted the lock sector. Today, the industry has developed a comprehensive system integrating machinery, electronics, and biotechnology. According to Luo Baihui, China’s lock manufacturing technology and equipment levels have significantly improved, approaching global standards and laying the foundation for stronger international competition.
As the market opens up and the industry grows globally, high-end lock products will play an increasingly important role in international competition. Locks that combine security, aesthetics, and design will dominate the future market. The development of electronic smart locks is expected to accelerate, with market surveys predicting that high-tech products like biometric and electronic locks will reach 40 billion yuan in value, with over 50 million units sold annually.
Competition in the future will revolve around brand strength, product quality, and distribution channels. Moreover, the market will no longer be dominated solely by domestic players, as international giants are increasingly entering the Chinese market through acquisitions. Companies like ASSA ABLOY, Stanley, and Kabah Group have acquired local firms, intensifying the competition between global and domestic brands.
Building strong, self-owned brands can drive positive development, and quality improvements and high-end R&D driven by innovation will help win consumer trust and capture a share of the high-value market. As the industry moves toward higher-end segments, traditional workshop-style manufacturing is giving way to brand-focused enterprises, which are increasingly appealing to the middle-class consumer.
However, many domestic companies still suffer from narrow thinking, limiting the extension of the industry chain and hindering systematic and serialized development. A lack of brand awareness prevents the formation of true brand leaders and star products, leaving many companies stuck in a supporting role within the industry.
Compared to Western countries, China’s lock industry remains at the lower end of the market, with an immature industry chain. The presence of numerous small and micro-enterprises creates intense competition but also leads to serious homogenization, which hampers overall growth. Although the market trend is positive, the level of competition is still relatively low, and the industry lacks the genuine innovation needed to drive a major transformation.
During the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period, the average annual export growth rate of the lock industry reached 31%, double the average growth rate of the broader hardware sector. This trend is expected to continue into the Twelfth Five-Year Plan. Meanwhile, the rise in imports reflects the growing demand for foreign high-end brands and highlights the current weakness of domestic brands in the premium market.
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