BEIJING - Sales for China's major excavator producers saw slower growth in April, industry data showed Thursday.

A total of 28,410 excavators were sold last month, up 6.96 percent year-on-year, narrowing from the 15.7 percent growth in March, data from the China Construction Machinery Association showed.

In breakdown, 26,373 excavators were sold in the domestic market, up 5.31 percent year-on-year. Exports of the equipment soared 34.19 percent to 2,037.

Major manufacturers sold a total of 103,200 excavators in the first four months this year, a 19.13 percent year-on-year growth.

Sales of digging machines are an indicator of the vitality of an economy as demand is usually backed by growth in mining and infrastructure development.

China sold a total of 203,420 excavators in 2018, surging 45 percent year-on-year, the association said.