China posts solid industrial profit growth as tech sectors power ahead

27th Oct 2026 10:53

(Sharecast News) - China's major industrial firms recorded solid profit growth in the first nine months of 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, supported by strong gains across electronics and high‑tech manufacturing.

Profits at firms with annual main business revenues of at least RMB 20m (£2.25m) rose 15.5% year‑on‑year in January-September, maintaining the double‑digit pace seen since the start of the year. September profits were up 14.4%, an acceleration of more than ten percentage points from August.

NBS statistician Yu Weining said the improvement reflected firmer macro policy support, steady industrial output and faster development of new productive forces.

Electronics remained the standout driver, with sector profits doubling and contributing 9.6 percentage points to overall growth. Demand for AI computing power and advanced memory technologies fuelled a 220% jump in electronic specialty materials profits, while semiconductor discrete device manufacturing climbed 51.7%.

High‑tech manufacturing also outpaced the broader industrial sector, with profits rising 52% year‑on‑year and accounting for 25.5% of total industrial profits, up 6.2 percentage points from a year earlier.

Yu highlighted that the figures pointed to a continued shift in China's industrial base toward higher‑end, innovation‑driven production.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com