In recent years, China's processing centers have experienced a surge in imports, from 2144 units in 2000 to 8095 units in 2004. Imports are expected to reach 10000 units in 2005. In the first half of 2005, China imported 4579 processing centers of various types, with a total amount of 620 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 26.4% and 56.3%, respectively. Among them, 3443 vertical machining centers were imported, accounting for 75.2% of the total, with a total amount of 277 million US dollars, accounting for 44.7% of the total amount, with year-on-year growth of 26.1% and 45.3%, respectively. 703 horizontal machining centers were imported, accounting for 15.4% of the total, with a total amount of 239 million US dollars, accounting for 38.6% of the total amount, with year-on-year growth of 47.7% and 72.1%, respectively. The Longmen Processing Center imported 138 units, accounting for 3% of the total, with a total amount of 64 million US dollars, accounting for 10.4% of the total amount, with year-on-year growth of 81.6% and 111%, respectively. Among the major categories of CNC metal cutting machine tools imported in China, machining centers have become the most important imported products, accounting for nearly one-third of the imported CNC metal cutting machine tools in terms of quantity and amount, respectively.

The rapid increase in imports of processing centers reflects China's high demand for processing centers, which was approximately 11000 units in 2004 and is expected to reach around 13500 units in 2005. The situation where the majority of domestic demand for processing centers relies on foreign imports has not fundamentally changed, and the market share of domestic processing centers is still relatively low, around 27%. The main reason for the low market share of domestic processing centers is that there are many differences in product level, delivery time, quality, and reliability compared to similar foreign products.