BEIJING: China’s industrial sector showed robust growth in the first quarter of 2025, with value-added output from major enterprises rising 6.5 percent year-on-year and accounting for 36.3 percent of overall economic expansion, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Friday.
The growth rate accelerated by 0.8 percentage points from the previous quarter, signaling further momentum in the world’s second-largest economy.
Key industries such as electronics, automobiles, and electrical machinery led the expansion, while software and IT services generated nearly 1.9 trillion yuan ($263 billion) in revenue in the first two months. Private industrial investment grew at double-digit rates, and the number of major industrial firms continued to rise, reflecting improving business confidence.
China is rapidly advancing its new quality productive forces, integrating AI and smart manufacturing into industrial upgrades. Over 30,000 smart factories – including 230 top-tier “excellence-level” facilities – now operate nationwide, covering 80 percent of the key manufacturing sectors. These facilities have cut product development cycles by 28.4 percent and boosted efficiency by 22.3 percent. AI-powered innovations, such as AI phones, computers, and TVs, are also attracting consumers.
Despite global trade uncertainties, industrial exports rose 6.9 percent, with machinery and electronics up 8.7 percent. Domestic demand also expanded, driven by consumption promoting policies. Auto sales hit 7.47 million units, up 11.2 percent year-on-year. New energy vehicles saw even stronger growth, with sales surging 47.1 percent to over 3 million units.
MIIT chief engineer Xie Shaofeng acknowledged external risks, including geopolitical disruptions to global supply chains.
However, he emphasized China’s strengths – a complete industrial system, vast domestic market, and advanced infrastructure – as buffers against instability. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
