State Grid Tender Sets the Volume Benchmark for the Cable Manufacturer

One procurement batch released in September 2026 shows how much cable a single transmission programme consumes. The award also sets a benchmark that overseas buyers can use when they plan their own volume.

What the Fourth Batch Covered

On 8 September 2026, State Grid Materials Co. published the award announcement for the 2026 fourth-batch transmission and transformation procurement covering substation equipment and accessories, including cables. The batch tendered 11,501.788 kilometres of cable and 5,587 sets of accessories.

One supplier took five packages. Qingdao Hanhe Cable won 497.898 kilometres of cable and 401 accessory sets, while its Jiaozuo subsidiary added a further 51.163 kilometres. The combined contract value came to roughly 634 million yuan, around 6.09 percent of that company's 2025 revenue.

A second listed supplier, Jiangsu Tongguang, announced on 4 September 2026 that its subsidiary had been named a pre-award winner for about 130 million yuan in the same batch.

Two conclusions follow for anyone buying cable outside China. First, demand from grid reinforcement programmes is large and continuing. Second, award decisions hinge on documented type testing rather than on price alone.

Why Cable Demand Keeps Rising

Grid reinforcement is the driver. Ageing networks in Europe and North America need replacement, and new renewable generation needs connection to load centres. Both activities consume cable in quantity.

Distribution work adds to the total. Overhead lines are being converted to insulated and bundled designs in many markets, which increases the cable content of each kilometre of network. Substation upgrades add control cable, and industrial projects add low voltage and armoured cable.

Utility procurement is also becoming more demanding on documentation. Bidders must show type test reports, routine test records and quality system certification, and they must usually commit to batch testing for every delivery.

That pattern is spreading to private buyers. Contractors on renewable and data centre projects now ask for the same evidence, because the cost of a cable failure during commissioning outweighs the price difference between suppliers.

Fire Performance Rules Change the Specification

European buyers face an extra requirement. Under the construction products framework, cables intended for use in buildings must carry CE marking and a declaration of performance, and fire performance is graded from Aca to Fca.

The class decides how the cable must be approved. Higher classes require assessment by a notified body, while lower classes can rely on the manufacturer's own testing. Buyers should state the class they need, because a cable that meets a lower grade will not satisfy a specifier who has written a higher one into the design.

Installation conditions drive the choice. Escape routes, high-rise risers and tunnels usually call for a higher class, while plant rooms and outdoor runs can often use a lower one. A reference such as this 110kV XLPE cable substation upgrade illustrates how the requirement changes between buried, ducted and overhead sections of the same project.

Matching Cable Type to the Route

Route and load decide the family. A 12-20kV XLPE insulated power cable suits medium voltage distribution where insulation performance and thermal rating matter. Overhead distribution in rural areas often uses a 0.6/1kV aerial bundled cable, which reduces clearance issues and limits unauthorised connections. Transmission work relies on a bare conductor range for overhead lines where insulation is not required.

Armouring is a separate decision. Steel wire armour protects against mechanical damage in buried and industrial routes, while unarmoured cable suits trays and ducts. A guide to choosing the right armoured electrical cable sets out where the extra cost is justified.

Conductor material completes the selection. Copper carries a large share of finished cable cost, so its price movement feeds directly into quotations. On 11 September 2026, copper traded around 14,485 US dollars per tonne and aluminium around 3,271 US dollars per tonne. Aluminium designs reduce cost on long overhead runs where weight also matters.

What to Fix in the Enquiry

A complete enquiry states conductor material and size, insulation type, voltage class, cores, armour, sheath and fire performance class. Add the installation route, ambient temperature and any local approval the cable must hold.

Testing requirements belong in the same document. Ask for routine test records per drum, type test reports for the design offered, and the sampling plan for batch inspection. Specify whether third-party witnessing is required.

Delivery planning deserves attention. Cable is heavy and slow to handle, so drum lengths should match the pull lengths on site. A mismatch wastes cable and adds joints, which are the most failure-prone points in any installation.

Commercial terms should cover the price basis. Where a quotation is tied to metal prices, agree the reference source and the adjustment formula in advance. Fix minimum order quantity, lead time, warranty and spare part or jointing kit supply as well. Shenghua Cable Group was founded in 1997, operates from Shanghai with seven production bases and 21 cable factories, and reports monthly capacity of 15,000,000 metres across more than 80 cable series. The group holds CE certification under ECM certificate 3N240913.SSCCQ56 valid to 12 September 2029, KEMA and TUV approvals including IEC 62930:2017, EAC and GOST certification, and ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management system certificates, with a CNAS accredited laboratory and full batch inspection. Standard terms are a minimum order of 300 metres for power cable or 1,000 metres for wire, an 18 working day lead time, 30 percent deposit by telegraphic transfer, and FOB or CIF delivery.