China Light Industry H1 Value-Added Up 5%, Exports Rise 6.7%

In the first half of 2026, value-added output of light industry above designated size grew 5.0% year on year, with operating revenue reaching RMB 11.2 trillion.

Since the start of 2026, the optimized trade-in policy for consumer goods has driven consumption upgrades. In the first half, retail sales of 11 categories of light-industry goods reached RMB 4.3282 trillion, up 4.4% year on year. Among these, retail sales of high-efficiency home appliances grew by over 30%, while retail sales of wearable smart devices (including smart glasses) more than doubled.

In the first half, total exports of light-industry goods reached US$487.04 billion, up 6.7% year on year, accelerating by 0.9 percentage points from the January-May period. Seven industries saw export growth exceed 10%, including home appliances, which rose 13%, and batteries and parts, which climbed 38.6%.