The Chinese economy grew by 5% in 2025, the same pace as last year and meeting the government’s target. Growth was supported by strong exports, as companies diversified shipments to Europe and Latin America to offset weak domestic consumption and US tariffs. Total goods trade reached RMB 45.47 trillion, with exports up 6.1% and imports 0.5%. Private firms accounted for 57.3% of trade. The primary sector expanded 3.9%, the secondary sector 4.5%, while the services sector led growth at 5.4%, with IT & software (+11.1%) and leasing & business services (+10.3%) performing particularly strongly. Industrial value-added rose 5.9%, driven by equipment (+9.2%) and high-tech manufacturing (+9.4%). Retail sales grew 3.7% (online +8.6%), but fixed-asset investment fell 3.8% amid overcapacity and cautious household spending. Analysts expect growth of around 5% in 2026, though weak domestic demand could constrain upside.
