The first quarterly performance report of the industrial and information technology sectors for the initial year of the "16th Five-Year Plan" period has been released, highlighting the resilience and progress of China's industrial economy. On April 21, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology detailed the development achievements for the first quarter of 2026 during a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.
Industrial development remained stable and improved. Since the beginning of the year, proactive measures have been taken to advance industrial growth. The value-added output of large-scale industries increased by 6.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, with all 31 provinces recording positive growth. More than 80% of industrial sectors expanded, and industry contributed nearly 40% to overall economic growth. Telecommunications service volume rose by 8.3%, accelerating by 0.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
The industrial structure continued to optimize. In the first quarter, value-added output in the equipment manufacturing sector grew by 8.9%, accounting for almost half of the total industrial growth. Production of high-tech, high-value-added products such as robotic reducers and memory chips surged by over 40%.
Positive trends were further reinforced. Manufacturing investment stabilized and rebounded, increasing by 4.1% year-on-year, up 3.5 percentage points from the previous year. Sectors including computer and office equipment manufacturing, as well as aerospace equipment manufacturing, recorded double-digit investment growth. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose by 1.4 percentage points in March, entering expansion territory.
Despite rising external uncertainties, China's comprehensive industrial system, strong resilience, and vast market size ensure that the fundamentals of stable industrial growth remain intact. Moving forward, efforts will focus on stabilizing growth, strengthening innovation, promoting integration, improving governance, and preventing risks to enhance the quality and efficiency of industrial operations.
New growth drivers are accelerating. The first batch of 21 national-level pilot manufacturing platforms and 14 top-tier technology business incubators have been selected. The second domestically built large cruise ship, "Aida·Huacheng," was successfully launched. In the first two months, the penetration rate of new passenger vehicles equipped with L2-level combined driving assistance functions reached 69%. Technological innovation in industry continues to deepen, further unleashing growth potential.
The deep integration of digital and real economies is a key driver of industrial transformation. Progress has been made in advancing information and communication infrastructure, strengthening the foundation for digital and intelligent transformation. 5G and gigabit optical networks have been integrated into 91 out of 97 major economic sectors.
Additionally, efforts to scale up "5G+Industrial Internet" applications have resulted in over 25,000 related projects and the establishment of 1,260 categorized and specialized 5G factories, including 100 advanced benchmark facilities. These initiatives have led to an average product quality improvement of 20.5%, an 18.4% reduction in operating costs, and a 24.7% increase in production capacity.
Cultivating future industries is crucial for gaining a competitive edge in technology and industry. China has deployed more than 100 "unveiling the list and appointing the lead" innovation tasks in key areas such as quantum technology and clean low-carbon hydrogen. It has also systematically established several manufacturing innovation centers and pilot platforms for future industries. The number of high-tech enterprises has reached 509,000, and 193 innovation clusters have gathered 54,000 innovative companies.
To further promote the commercialization of future technologies, practical industrial needs will guide task deployment, with coordinated advancement in basic and applied research. Support will be enhanced for innovation centers and pilot platforms, and policies will be tailored for both general and specific sectors.
Services for enterprises have been upgraded in quality and efficiency. Recent initiatives include talent service campaigns for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), intensified efforts to clear overdue payments to businesses, and crackdowns on online misconduct in the automotive industry. Measures such as early warning systems for overcapacity and regulation of price competition have been reinforced. A special campaign has also been launched to provide universal computing power to support SME development.
In the first two months, profits of large-scale industrial enterprises increased by 15.2% year-on-year, up 14.6 percentage points from the previous year. Competition秩序 in sectors such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaics continued to improve, while prices of photovoltaic modules, lithium carbonate, and power-type lithium iron phosphate generally recovered.
SMEs play a vital role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods. Fostering specialized, refined, unique, and innovative SMEs is essential for high-quality development. A unified, well-connected, and targeted gradient cultivation system for high-quality SMEs has been established, and the "Measures for Gradient Cultivation of High-Quality SMEs" took effect on April 1 this year.
SMEs have shown steady progress since the beginning of the year, with accelerated production and improved profitability. In the first quarter, the value-added output of specialized, refined, unique, and innovative "little giant" enterprises within the large-scale industrial sector grew by 10.2% year-on-year.
Looking ahead, a three-year action plan for gradient cultivation of high-quality enterprises will be implemented, and some regions will be encouraged to establish empowerment centers for specialized SMEs. The "16th Five-Year Plan" for SME development will be released, and the second phase of the National SME Development Fund will be established. Additional national public service demonstration platforms and bases for SMEs will also be created.