According to the latest data released at a State Council Information Office press conference on September 15, China's industrial economy demonstrated remarkable resilience amid complex domestic and international conditions in August, with supply chain strengths becoming increasingly evident across multiple sectors.

Wang Guanhua, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics and deputy director of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics for National Economy, highlighted four key characteristics of the country's industrial performance during the briefing on August economic operations.

Accelerated industrial production growth

The value added of industries above designated size grew 5.2% year-on-year in August, accelerating by 0.7 percentage points from the previous month. Manufacturing, serving as the cornerstone of the real economy, saw its value added expand 6.1% — outpacing overall industrial growth by 0.9 percentage points. As the world's largest manufacturing nation, achieving such growth from an already massive base represents a significant accomplishment. More than 60% of industrial sectors and regions reported faster growth than the previous month, with electronics, electrical machinery, electric power, and automotive industries providing strong momentum.

Strengthened role of new growth drivers

New growth engines, including high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing, contributed over 60% of the growth in industrial output above designated size during August. The equipment manufacturing sector, serving as a stabilizing force for industrial operations, recorded 12.1% year-on-year growth, with all eight equipment sub-sectors expanding at a healthy pace. The electronics industry led the way with 17.2% growth, contributing the most among all industrial sectors. High-tech manufacturing continued its upward trajectory, with integrated circuit manufacturing and intelligent vehicle equipment production both maintaining growth rates exceeding 20%.

The deployment of embodied intelligence and human-machine collaboration technologies has accelerated robotics industry development, with robot reducer and industrial robot production surging 11.4% and 34.6% respectively. The Second World Humanoid Robot Games held in August drew widespread attention, with humanoid robots continuously breaking athletic records and exceeding human performance in multiple categories. Beyond the competition arena, many participating robots secured commercial orders through their impressive performances, successfully transitioning from "running on the track" to "working in factories" and "serving in homes." Data shows China's share of global humanoid robot shipments has climbed to 97%.

Sustained double-digit export growth

Export delivery value for industrial enterprises above designated size grew 11.1% year-on-year in August, maintaining double-digit growth for five consecutive months. Equipment manufacturing dominated industrial exports, accounting for approximately 75% of total export delivery value, with product competitiveness widely recognized in international markets. High-end equipment exports have emerged as a key driver of foreign trade growth. From January to August, China's automobile exports increased 47.1% year-on-year, while servers, optical modules, and electronic components all achieved double-digit export growth.

Improved development quality and efficiency

China achieved higher-quality industrial growth with lower energy consumption, as energy consumption per unit of value added for industrial enterprises above designated size fell 7.2% year-on-year in August. Clean energy generation from large-scale hydro, wind, nuclear, and solar power accounted for 2.4 percentage points more of total electricity output compared to the same period last year — this dual improvement reflects coordinated progress in carbon reduction, green expansion, and economic growth.

Regarding industrial chain resilience, "little giant" enterprises — specialized and innovative small and medium-sized firms — continue breaking through key technologies, effectively filling gaps in industrial chains and strengthening overall supply chain resilience. The value added of such enterprises above designated size grew 12.8% year-on-year in August.

In terms of profitability, benefiting from production expansion and product price recovery, industrial enterprises above designated size saw profits increase 17.6% in the January-July period, with revenue margins also improving year-on-year.

Despite these positive achievements, challenges remain, including sluggish global economic recovery, insufficient domestic demand, and operational difficulties facing some industries and enterprises. Targeted measures will be needed to address these issues. Nevertheless, with a comprehensive industrial system, resilient development capabilities, and substantial market potential — combined with new momentum forming in high-end manufacturing, green manufacturing, and intelligent transformation — the fundamentals supporting stable industrial economic growth remain unchanged.