2026.01.1906:59:15UTC+00China Hits 5% Growth Target in 2025

The Chinese economy experienced a growth rate of 5% in 2025, maintaining the same pace as the previous year and aligning with government projections. This growth was bolstered by robust export activities, as companies expanded their shipments to European and Latin American markets to counterbalance weak domestic consumption and tariffs imposed by the United States. The total trade in goods reached RMB 45.47 trillion (approximately US$6.36 trillion), with exports increasing by 6.1% and imports by 0.5%. Private enterprises played a significant role, contributing to 57.3% of this trade.

The economy saw varied growth across different sectors: the primary sector grew by 3.9%, the secondary sector by 4.5%, and the tertiary or services sector led the growth at 5.4%, with notable contributions from the IT and software industry (up 11.1%) and the leasing and business services (up 10.3%). The industrial value-added sector witnessed a 5.9% increase, driven by equipment production (up 9.2%) and high-tech manufacturing (up 9.4%). Retail sales increased by 3.7%, with online sales seeing an 8.6% rise, while fixed-asset investment declined by 3.8% due to overcapacity concerns and cautious consumer spending. Analysts anticipate a growth rate of approximately 5% for 2026, although the potential for higher growth may be restricted by weak domestic demand.