China's August 2026 Industrial Output Rises 5.2% as Equipment Manufacturing Gains 12.1%

In August 2026, value-added industrial output above designated size grew 5.2% year on year, 0.7 percentage points faster than the previous month. More than 60% of industries and regions recorded faster industrial growth, with electronics, electrical machinery, power and automobiles among the largest contributors. New growth drivers represented by high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing contributed more than 60% of the growth in industrial output above designated size. Equipment manufacturing value added rose 12.1% year on year, with all eight equipment sectors posting relatively rapid growth. The electronics sector grew 17.2%, the largest contributor among industrial sectors, while integrated circuit manufacturing and smart in-vehicle equipment manufacturing maintained growth of more than 20%.

In August 2026, output of robot reducers rose 11.4% year on year and industrial robot output rose 34.6%. At the second World Humanoid Robot Games, humanoid robots set new athletic marks, with several indicators surpassing human records. Beyond the competition, some participating robots received orders. China's share of global humanoid robot shipments rose to 97%.

In August 2026, China's total goods imports and exports grew 19.8% year on year, and export delivery value of industrial enterprises above designated size rose 11.1%, maintaining double-digit growth for five consecutive months. Equipment manufacturing accounted for about 75% of export delivery value of industrial products. From January to August 2026, China's automobile export value rose 47.1% year on year, while export value of servers, optical modules and electronic components all achieved double-digit growth.

In August 2026, energy consumption per unit of value added of industrial enterprises above designated size fell 7.2% year on year, and the share of clean energy power generation rose 2.4 percentage points year on year, with the share of green energy including hydropower, wind power, nuclear power and solar power above designated size continuing to increase. In the same month, value added of specialized and sophisticated small giant industrial enterprises above designated size grew 12.8% year on year. From January to July 2026, profits of industrial enterprises above designated size rose 17.6%.