Introduction: In May 2026, various regions and departments implemented proactive macroeconomic control policies, resulting in steady progress in national industrial production. Industrial product exports maintained double-digit growth, while equipment manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing, and digital product manufacturing continued to see strong growth. Green transformation of industries was implemented in an orderly manner, and the driving effect of new industrial drivers continued to be prominent.
I. Accelerated Industrial Production and Expanded Industry Growth Coverage
In May, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 4.5% year-on-year, 0.4 percentage points higher than the previous month, and increased by 0.40% month-on-month after seasonal adjustment.
By three major categories: the value added of mining increased by 2.3% year-on-year, manufacturing by 4.4%, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water by 7.6%.
It covered all 41 major industrial sectors, of which 28 sectors achieved value added growth, representing 68.3% of the sectors.
II. Equipment Manufacturing Becomes the Core Support for Industrial Growth
The added value of equipment manufacturing enterprises above designated size increased by 9.5% year-on-year in May, accelerating by 1.2 percentage points month-on-month, contributing 78.4% to the growth of industrial enterprises above designated size. All eight sub-sectors under this industry saw growth.
The electronics industry grew by 17.0% year-on-year, reaching a new high in nearly five years, contributing 39.2% and leading all major industrial categories. The growth rates for instruments and meters, special equipment, automobiles, aerospace and shipbuilding, and general equipment were 10.3%, 9.1%, 8.3%, 7.4%, and 6.7%, respectively.
The output of high-end equipment products surged: power plant steam turbines increased by 70.7%, civilian steel ships by 70.6%, and medical instruments and equipment by 20.5%.
III. High-Tech Manufacturing Leads Industrial Upgrading
The added value of high-tech manufacturing increased by 15.1% year-on-year in May, accelerating by 2.3 percentage points month-on-month, contributing 57.0% to industrial growth, an increase of 4.9 percentage points from the previous month.
Sub-sectors showed strong growth: electronic component manufacturing (35.4%), aircraft manufacturing (24.2%), electronic industrial equipment (18.7%), and biopharmaceutical manufacturing (14.7%).
The entire artificial intelligence industry chain accelerated: sensor production increased by 24.1%, and integrated circuit production increased by 22.9%; the intelligent robot sector expanded rapidly, with robot reducers, industrial robots, and service robots seeing production increases of 44.7%, 27.9%, and 19.8%, respectively.
IV. The growth rate of the digital product manufacturing industry continued to accelerate.
The added value of the digital product manufacturing industry above designated size increased by 13.9% year-on-year, accelerating by 1.9 percentage points compared to the previous period, contributing 48.2% to industrial growth, an increase of 8.6 percentage points compared to the previous period.
The added value of electronic component and equipment manufacturing and intelligent equipment manufacturing increased by 19.7% and 18.0%, respectively.
The production and sales of industrial digitalization equipment are booming: 3D printing equipment production increased by 54.4%, while CNC metal cutting machine tools and CNC forging equipment increased by 16.7% and 13.7% respectively; demand for core components of industrial automation is strong, with industrial automatic control instruments, machine tool CNC devices, and industrial control computer systems growing by 41.3%, 23.1%, and 20.6% respectively.
V. Steady Progress in Green Transformation of Industries
Green-related industries are showing strong growth momentum, with the added value of biomass fuel processing and bio-based material manufacturing increasing by 47.1% and 16.2% year-on-year respectively.
The new energy industry chain continues to expand, with the production of new energy vehicles reaching 1.489 million units in May, driving a 40.0% increase in lithium-ion battery production; the supply of green raw materials has improved, with the production of lithium carbonate, fuel ethanol, and bio-based chemical fibers increasing by 20.8%, 21.0%, and 18.1% respectively.
VI. Stable Double-Digit Growth in Industrial Product Exports
In May, the export delivery value of industrial enterprises above designated size reached 1.4 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%. Equipment manufacturing was the main export driver, accounting for 74.6% of the industry's total export value, a year-on-year increase of 0.9 percentage points.
The export value of automobiles, aerospace/shipbuilding, and specialized equipment all achieved double-digit growth, with growth rates of 22.9%, 18.5%, and 16.1% respectively. The electronics industry saw a 9.9% increase in exports, contributing 38.1% of the total export growth.
Market Outlook and Development Direction
Comprehensive data shows that the domestic industrial economy in May was generally stable with progress, and the role of innovation-driven growth continued to strengthen. However, it is also important to acknowledge the complex and volatile external environment, and the real pressures faced by industrial enterprises, such as weak domestic demand and profit differentiation across industries.
In the next stage, all regions will fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, and coordinate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the expansion of emerging industries, and the forward-looking layout of future industries, taking multiple measures to promote high-quality development of the industrial economy.
