Big-ticket mining projects are helping Chinese machinery makers consolidate their presence in Africa and to offset losses from dwindling demand in developed markets.

Shanghai Shibang Machinery Co, a high-technology enterprise in Shanghai, is one of the Chinese firms that is seeing robust demand for its products in African nations such as Angola, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Botswana. To further expand its business in Africa, the company plans to set up warehouses, service and technical centers in Ghana and Nigeria over the next five years.

Many of the opportunities are coming because of Africa's growing demand for mining and infrastructure projects, especially as mining has a big role in foreign exchange generation, says Cui Gaofeng, sales director of Shanghai Shibang.