Over the next 3–5 years, KYN28 (12kV medium-voltage metal-enclosed switchgear) will remain the absolute mainstream product in China’s 10kV and 24kV distribution networks, industrial users, and new energy sectors. Its overall market outlook is stable and positive, showing a trend of structural upgrading and continued growth in overseas demand. At the same time, KYN28 also faces challenges such as intensified price competition, increasing pressure for intelligent transformation, and green environmental protection upgrades.
In 2025, the total shipment of high-voltage switchgear in China will be approximately 487,000 units, of which KYN28 will account for 41.2%. The market share of withdrawable switchgear (including KYN61-40.5) will be 59.2%, maintaining a position above 45% for five consecutive years.
In the State Grid's 2025 switchgear tender totaling 7.212 billion yuan, KYN28 ranked first in comprehensive evaluation and was selected as the preferred standard switchgear type for 10kV distribution networks.
The high-voltage switchgear market size was approximately RMB 38 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach RMB 51.89 billion in 2026, representing a year-on-year growth of 6.5%. KYN28 continues to hold the top spot in single-product sales within the industry.
Currently, over 500,000 KYN28 units are in operation nationwide, widely used in power grids, photovoltaic power generation, energy storage, data centers, rail transit, and industrial plants.
According to the "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Distribution Networks (2024–2026)," by the end of 2026, the coverage rate of intelligent terminals in prefecture-level cities will exceed 95%, driving the accelerated replacement of traditional products by intelligent KYN28 units with IEC 61850 protocol and online monitoring functions. In 2025, the State Grid's investment in distribution networks reached RMB 425 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.1%, with shipments of 12kV and below electrical equipment increasing by 14.3%.
KYN28 is an essential product for substations and grid-connected cabinets in photovoltaic, energy storage, and wind power projects. It is suitable for rated currents from 630A to 6300A and has a short-circuit breaking capacity of 50kA. The annual growth rate of power distribution equipment in the new energy sector exceeds 12%, significantly higher than the growth rate of traditional power grid equipment.
With its high reliability, ease of maintenance, and rapid fault isolation capabilities, KYN28 is widely used in the second phase of the "East-West Data Center" project and T3/T3+ level data centers. In 2026, the procurement volume of 10kV medium-voltage switchgear for data centers will surge by 28%, becoming KYN28's biggest growth engine.
Since 2025, the State Grid Corporation of China has mandated the complete elimination of SF₆ in 40.5kV and below equipment, posing a risk of obsolescence for SF₆ ring main units (XGN15). KYN28 employs vacuum arc extinguishing and air insulation technology, fully complying with SF₆-free policy requirements, making it a major beneficiary of this trend.
In 2025, the export value of high-voltage switchgear reached 3.42 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.8%, and is expected to exceed 4.2 billion yuan in 2026. Demand for KYN28 is strong in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, which adhere to IEC standards, with export growth rates remaining around 10.5%.
Conclusions: KYN28 remains a promising sector. The short-term market outlook is stable, it maintains its leading position in the medium term, and will achieve technological iteration in the long term. Core opportunities lie in intelligent upgrades, customized solutions for the new energy sector, and overseas market expansion.
Recommendations:
• Prioritize the research and development and promotion of intelligent KYN28 models integrating online monitoring, IEC 61850, and digital twin technologies to improve profit margins.
• Deepen expansion into the photovoltaic, energy storage, and data center markets, launching customized products and solutions.
• Actively expand into IEC standard regional markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East to avoid domestic price competition.
