China records 5.8% industrial growth in May, 6.3% in Jan-May period

Equipment manufacturing saw a robust 9 per cent YoY growth, 3.2 percentage points (pp) higher than the overall industrial average. High-tech manufacturing followed closely, up by 8.6 per cent—2.8 pp faster than the broader industrial sector.

Over the January-May period, the cumulative value added by large industrial enterprises climbed by 6.3 per cent YoY.

Business sentiment showed marginal improvement as the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) edged up to 49.5 per cent in May, a 0.5-point rise from April. Meanwhile, the production and operation expectation index reached 52.5 per cent, increasing by 0.4 pp.

Profits of industrial enterprises with annual revenues above 20 million yuan totalled 2.12 trillion yuan (~$295.26 billion) in the first four months of 2025, marking a 1.4 per cent annual increase.

The industrial sector displayed resilience and potential, supported by ongoing structural upgrades and targeted policy measures, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said. He emphasised strong gains in high-end manufacturing, the digital economy, and clean energy sectors, which are driving long-term transformation.

However, Fu also cautioned about persistent external uncertainties and domestic pressures, calling for sustained efforts to enhance innovation and ensure high-quality development, as per Chinese media reports.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (SG)