On the afternoon of January 23, the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial Government held a themed press conference titled "Understanding Shandong's Development Through Data" to present the province's 2025 economic and social development performance. Data revealed that over the past year, Shandong advanced under pressure, confronted challenges head-on, and resolutely shouldered its mission of "taking the lead and bearing the heavy load." It successfully accomplished the main annual targets for economic and social development, achieving significant results in high-quality growth. The province's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) broke through the 10 trillion yuan mark, making Shandong the third province nationally and the first in Northern China to enter the "10-trillion club."

According to the unified accounting results for regional GDP, the province's total output value reached 10,319.7 billion yuan in 2025. Calculated at constant prices, this represents a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, signifying a step up in total economic scale while maintaining a steady growth rate. Analyzing by industry, the three major sectors developed in a coordinated manner with continuously optimized structure: the added value of the primary industry was 677.5 billion yuan, up 4.0% year-on-year; the secondary industry's added value reached 4,054.1 billion yuan, growing 5.0%; the tertiary industry's added value hit 5,588.1 billion yuan, rising 6.1%, highlighting the service sector's pronounced role in driving economic growth.

Agricultural production maintained a solid foundation, with the "Qilu Granary" providing strong assurance. In 2025, the province firmly upheld its responsibility as a major agricultural province, achieving notable results in promoting rural revitalization through zonal development. The total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery reached 1,317.93 billion yuan, an increase of 4.4% calculated at comparable prices. Despite facing prolonged autumn rains, the province actively responded and implemented scientific controls. Total grain output reached 114.21 billion jin, remaining above 110 billion jin for the fifth consecutive year and achieving a slight increase within a stable framework. Output of vegetables, orchard fruits, and aquatic products grew by 3.2%, 3.4%, and 3.5% respectively, ensuring ample supply of important agricultural products like vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and milk, thereby strengthening the baseline for social stability.

The industrial economy exhibited strong growth momentum, with the pace of industrial upgrading accelerating. The province deepened the implementation of its "Number One Project" for the industrial economy, balancing the upgrading of traditional industries, the cultivation of emerging industries, and the layout of future industries. The value-added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 7.6% for the full year, maintaining a relatively high growth rate. By ownership type, share-holding enterprises grew by 8.1% and private enterprises by 7.3%, indicating the continuous release of market vitality. By sector, equipment manufacturing performed notably well, with its value-added surging 11.4%, 3.8 percentage points higher than the overall industrial average above designated size. Within this sector, the value-added of the automotive, railway/shipbuilding, and electrical machinery industries grew by 16.5%, 13.4%, and 12.5% respectively, serving as crucial engines for industrial growth.

The service sector expanded in capacity and improved in quality, with high-end industries showing favorable momentum. The province introduced special policies for service sector development, driving continued improvement in its performance. From January to November, the operating revenue of service enterprises above the designated size increased by 6.0% year-on-year, 0.7 percentage points higher than the rate from January to October. Nine out of ten major service industry categories recorded growth. High-end producer services led in growth speed, with operating revenue in scientific research and technical services rising 8.4%, within which technology promotion and application services surged 20.7%, demonstrating the persistent effect of innovation-driven development.

The structure of consumption and investment was optimized, with endogenous growth动力不断增强. The consumer market grew steadily, with the total retail sales of consumer goods reaching 4,208.29 billion yuan for the year, a 5.1% increase. Online consumption played a prominent supporting role, with online retail sales of physical goods by限额以上units amounting to 241.76 billion yuan, soaring 17.4%. This growth rate was 12.0 percentage points higher than the total retail sales of all限额以上units and contributed 2.8 percentage points to their growth. In the investment sphere, the focus was on improving quality and efficiency. Industrial investment grew by 3.5%, 12.1 percentage points higher than the growth rate of total investment. Specifically, investment in the manufacture of electrical machinery and equipment, automotive manufacturing, and general equipment manufacturing increased by 22.8%, 23.7%, and 27.7% respectively, indicating a shift towards more high-end industrial investment directions.

Opening-up was deepened, and the trade structure was continuously optimized. The province thoroughly implemented the "Ten Thousand Enterprises Go Global, Shandong Trades Worldwide" initiative, effectively responding to external challenges. The total value of goods imports and exports for the year reached 3,530.03 billion yuan, an increase of 4.5%. Exports amounted to 2,161.81 billion yuan, growing 4.0%, while imports reached 1,368.22 billion yuan, rising 5.1%, reflecting balanced development in both import and export activities. Imports and exports by private enterprises grew by 6.3%, accounting for 76.3% of the total and becoming the mainstay of foreign trade stability. Trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 7.6%, accounting for 64.1% of the total, indicating a more diversified market layout.

Livelihood safeguards were robust and effective, continuously enhancing the people's sense of gain. In 2025, the province implemented 20 key livelihood projects. A total of 1.249 million new urban jobs were created throughout the year, resulting in an overall stable employment situation. The per capita disposable income of residents reached 44,180 yuan, a nominal increase of 5.0% year-on-year. The per capita disposable income of rural residents grew by 5.4%, which was 1.0 percentage points higher than that of urban residents. The urban-rural income ratio narrowed to 2.12, indicating a more reasonable income distribution. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained generally stable, decreasing by 0.1% year-on-year, while the decline in the Industrial Producer Price Index narrowed, keeping price movements within a reasonable range.

The press conference highlighted that Shandong solidly completed the main annual targets and tasks for the 14th Five-Year Plan period in 2025, taking firm strides in building a modern and powerful province for the new era. As 2026 marks the critical start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the province will anchor itself to the goal of "taking the lead and bearing the heavy load," forge ahead with determination and innovation, vigorously promote high-quality economic and social development, ensure a strong first step and demonstrate a new atmosphere for the 15th Five-Year Plan, thereby making new and greater contributions to the nation's overall development.