- Jiangsu posts 6.7% industrial growth as high-tech manufacturing and electronics lead gains
- New growth drivers strengthen while investment remains mixed amid property downturn
Jiangsu’s industrial economy maintained steady expansion in the first five months of 2026, with value-added output from large-scale industrial enterprises rising 6.7% year-on-year, according to data released by the provincial statistics bureau.
In May alone, industrial output generated by firms with annual main-business revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.94 million) and more grew 5.0% year-on-year.
Electricity, heat production and supply expanded 20.1%, while computer, communications and other electronic equipment manufacturing rose 16.0%, providing strong support for overall growth.
New drivers
New growth drivers continued to gain momentum. From January to May, output from equipment manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing increased 8.0%, 15.5% and 13.5%, respectively.
These segments all outperformed the broader industrial average, underscoring the province’s ongoing shift toward higher-end, more technology-intensive production.
Investment uptick
On the investment side, equipment upgrades showed strong effects, with investment in machinery and equipment rising 13.4% year-on-year.
However, overall fixed asset investment declined 10.0%, dragged down by a 19.7% drop in real estate development, a 4.9% decline in manufacturing investment and a 3.5% fall in infrastructure investment.
Robust wearables sales
Consumption showed continued momentum. In May, retail sales of energy-efficient home appliances grew 18.1% among large retailers.
Sales of wearable smart devices surged 126%, reflecting robust growth in emerging consumption categories.
