Hardware refers to essential metal components used in daily life and industrial production. The hardware manufacturing industry is a vital part of China's light industry. Based on product applications, hardware products can be categorized into tool hardware, construction hardware, household hardware, and more, representing a deep integration of traditional manufacturing and modern technology.

China is a major global producer of hardware. In recent years, with the increasing maturity of industrial clustering and refined division of labor, the country has developed several specialized hardware production regions, including the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. Through close collaboration among local governments, industry organizations, and upstream and downstream enterprises, China's hardware manufacturing industry has achieved steady growth.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, from 2013 to 2023, the compound annual growth rate of revenue for large-scale metal product enterprises was 3.30%. In 2023, the revenue of large-scale metal product manufacturers reached 4,544.26 billion yuan. As a widely used and large-scale segment of the metal products industry, the hardware sector has played a significant role in driving the industry's development. The increasing standardization of the hardware industry has enabled stronger enterprises to expand and enhance profitability among large-scale metal product manufacturers. In 2024, the revenue of large-scale metal product enterprises in China reached 4,680.96 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.01%.

Data from China's General Administration of Customs shows that the total import and export value of metal products grew from 629.14 billion yuan in 2014 to 1,187.585 billion yuan in 2024, with a CAGR of 6.56%. With accelerated urbanization, rising living standards, and sustained global demand for hardware products, China's hardware import and export volumes have generally shown an upward trend.