China’s industrial production rose 5.7% year-on-year in March 2026, easing from a 6.3% increase in the combined January–February period but exceeding market expectations of 5.5%. Activity softened across key sectors, including mining (5.7% vs. 6.1% in January–February), manufacturing (6.0% vs. 6.6%), and utilities—covering electricity, heat, gas, and water (3.5% vs. 4.7%).
Within manufacturing, 30 of the 41 major industries recorded growth. Notable performers included computers and communications equipment (12.5%), railway and shipbuilding (13.3%), general equipment (6.3%), special equipment (6.2%), electrical machinery (5.4%), chemicals (9.0%), coal mining and washing (5.3%), agricultural and food processing (8.0%), oil and gas (9.4%), and electricity and heat production (4.2%).
On a monthly basis, industrial output increased 0.28%. For the first quarter, industrial production expanded 6.1%, following a 5.9% gain for the full year 2025.
