China's industrial output grows in August 2026 driven by high-tech and robotics
Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s value-added industrial output increased by 5.2 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, up 0.7 percentage points from the previous month, according to official data released on Tuesday (15/9), with industrial robots emerging as a standout product.
High-tech manufacturing output surged by 16.7 per cent (yoy) in August, while equipment manufacturing increased by 12.1 per cent, outperforming the overall industrial output growth by 11.5 and 6.9 percentage points, respectively, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
At the product level, industrial robot output jumped by 34.6 per cent (yoy) in August, while lithium-ion batteries and 3D printing equipment recorded increases of 57.2 per cent and 29.9 per cent, respectively.
This rapid growth is attributed to the increasing deployment of industrial robots across various sectors in China. Data released in July by the China Machinery Industry Federation showed that domestically produced industrial robots are now utilised in 253 industrial groups, covering more than half of all existing industrial groups in China.
In the broader sector, value-added output from the mining sector fell by 1.4 per cent (yot), while value-added output from the manufacturing sector grew by 6.1 per cent. Value-added output from the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water rose by 4.9 per cent.
In terms of ownership, value-added output in state-owned enterprises and enterprises with state-owned shares grew by 3 per cent (yoy), while private enterprises rose by 3.7 per cent.
In the first eight months of 2026, industrial output grew by 5.3 per cent (yoy), according to the data.
NBS data also showed that the purchasing managers’ index for China’s manufacturing sector stood at 49.8 in August, while the index measuring business expectations for production and business activity was at 53.8, indicating sustained confidence in the outlook.
From January to July, the total profit of China’s large industrial enterprises reached 4.58 trillion yuan (1 yuan = Rp2,635) or approximately 677.12 billion US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp17,635), an increase of 17.6 per cent (yoy).
Industrial output is used to measure the activity of large enterprises that each have an annual main business income of at least 20 million yuan.
Fu Linghui, a spokesperson for the NBS, stated during a press conference on Tuesday that industrial production remained stable in August despite volatility in global energy and raw material markets, supported by efforts to secure energy supplies and advance the green transition.
He added that emerging industries continue to gain momentum as technological innovation and industry become increasingly integrated, with new growth drivers contributing more than 60 per cent to the increase in industrial output.