In the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the industrial and information technology sector has delivered a solid quarterly performance. What new characteristics has the industry demonstrated? At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on April 21, relevant officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology detailed the development achievements in the first quarter of 2026.
Industrial development has remained stable and improved. "Since the beginning of this year, we have proactively coordinated with various regions and departments to advance efforts and take initiative. In the first quarter, industrial and information technology development achieved a generally positive start," said Zhang Yunming, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology.
Data shows that in the first quarter, the value-added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 6.1% year-on-year. All 31 provinces recorded positive growth, with over 80% of industries expanding. The industrial sector contributed nearly 40% to economic growth. Telecommunications service volume grew by 8.3% year-on-year, an acceleration of 0.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year. The "stable" trend continues to strengthen, while the pace of "progress" accelerates.
The industrial structure is continuously optimizing. In the first quarter, the value-added of equipment manufacturing above the designated size rose by 8.9% year-on-year, contributing nearly 50% to the growth of industrial value-added. High-tech, high-value-added products such as robotic reducers and memory chips saw output surge by over 40%.
Positive momentum continues to solidify. Manufacturing investment stabilized and rebounded, increasing by 4.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, 3.5 percentage points faster than last year. Investment in sectors like computer and office equipment manufacturing, as well as aerospace equipment manufacturing, achieved double-digit growth. In March, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose by 1.4 percentage points from the previous month, entering expansion territory.
Zhang Yunming stated that although external uncertainties are rising, China's comprehensive industrial system, strong resilience, and vast market size ensure that the fundamental trend of stable and improving industrial economy remains unchanged. The next steps will focus on stabilizing growth, strengthening innovation, promoting integration, optimizing governance, and preventing risks to continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of industrial operations.
New growth drivers are accelerating. The first batch of 21 national-level manufacturing pilot platforms and 14 top-tier sci-tech enterprise incubators have been selected. The second domestically built large cruise ship, "Ada·Flower City," was successfully launched. In the first two months, the penetration rate of new passenger vehicles with L2-level combined driving assistance functions reached 69%. Industrial sci-tech innovation is deepening, further unleashing growth potential.
The deep integration of the digital and real economies is a key driver of industrial transformation and upgrading. "Since the beginning of this year, we have made positive progress in advancing information and communication infrastructure, focusing on strengthening the foundation for digital and intelligent transformation of the economy and society," said Xie Cun, Director of the Information and Communication Development Department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 5G and gigabit optical networks have been integrated into 91 out of 97 major categories of the national economy.
Furthermore, efforts continue to promote the scaled development of "5G + Industrial Internet," with over 25,000 related projects established. A total of 1,260 classified and distinctive 5G factories have been built, including 100 technologically advanced, benchmark 5G factories. These have achieved an average product quality improvement of 20.5%, an operational cost reduction of 18.4%, and an average capacity increase of 24.7%.
Cultivating future industries is crucial for seizing technological and industrial high ground and securing development initiative. Currently, China has deployed over 100 "unveiling the list and assigning leaders" innovation tasks in key areas such as quantum technology and clean, low-carbon hydrogen. Systematic layouts include manufacturing innovation centers and pilot platforms for future industries. The country has nurtured 509,000 high-tech enterprises, with 193 innovative industrial clusters gathering 54,000 innovative companies.
How can future industries transition from the "laboratory" to the "mass market"? Zhang Yunming explained that efforts will focus on deploying research tasks based on actual industrial needs, strengthening the synergy between basic and applied research, promoting the construction of manufacturing innovation centers and pilot platforms, and coordinating the formulation of universal policies alongside targeted measures for specific sectors.
Services for enterprises are improving in quality and efficiency. Initiatives include talent service campaigns for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), intensified efforts to clear overdue payments to businesses, in-depth rectification of online misconduct in the automotive industry, continued capacity early-warning regulation and standardization of price competition, and special actions to empower SMEs with accessible computing resources. Recently, the industrial and information technology system has continuously enhanced the quality and effectiveness of pro-enterprise services.
Data indicates that in the first two months, profits of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 15.2% year-on-year, accelerating by 14.6 percentage points compared to last year. Competition order in sectors like new energy vehicles and photovoltaics continues to improve. Prices of products such as photovoltaic modules, lithium carbonate, and power-type lithium iron phosphate have generally rebounded.
SMEs are a vital force driving innovation, promoting employment, and improving livelihoods. "High-quality development for SMEs necessarily involves specialization, refinement, uniqueness, and innovation. We are accelerating the formation of a unified, well-connected, and precisely serviced gradient cultivation system for high-quality SMEs, and implemented the 'Gradient Cultivation Management Measures for High-Quality SMEs' starting April 1 this year," said Tao Qing, Director of the Operation Monitoring and Coordination Bureau at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
This year, SME operations have shown steady progress with accelerated production and improved efficiency. In the first quarter, the value-added of specialized, refined, unique, and innovative "little giant" enterprises above the designated size grew by 10.2% year-on-year.
Tao Qing stated that future efforts will include implementing a three-year action plan for gradient cultivation of high-quality enterprises, supporting eligible regions in exploring the establishment of empowerment centers for specialized, refined, unique, and innovative SMEs, releasing the "15th Five-Year Plan" for promoting SME development, establishing the second phase of the National SME Development Fund, and creating national SME public service demonstration platforms (bases).