China's air quality continued to improve in the first half of 2026, according to a new review of the country's air quality.

The report said the average concentration of PM2.5 particles maintained its downward trend as electric vehicles (EVs) made a growing contribution to reducing transport-related emissions.

In the first half of the year, EVs displaced an estimated 33.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in oil consumption, up 42% from a year earlier and nearly three times the level recorded in the first half of 2023.

The reduction was roughly equivalent to 6% of China's crude oil imports in 2025 or about 22 days of imports at the previous year's average rate.

Urban nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution levels, which are closely associated with vehicle exhaust, fell 7% in the second quarter, following higher fuel prices that coincided with increased use of EVs, public transport and car sharing.

The report also highlighted continued progress in emission controls. Estimated emissions-related changes showed improvements in 28 of China's 31 provincial capitals, suggesting that pollution-control efforts continued to make progress despite unfavorable weather conditions in some areas.

Among China's three key air-pollution control regions, the Yangtze River Delta posted the most significant improvement in PM2.5 levels during the first half of 2026, while the Fenwei Plain also recorded lower PM2.5 concentrations.

China's updated annual PM2.5 standard of 30 micrograms per cubic meter, which came into effect in March 2026, sets a stricter benchmark for assessing air quality. The report estimated that if all cities meet the current standard, about 156,000 air-pollution-related deaths could be avoided each year. When the stricter annual limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter takes effect in 2031, the number of avoided deaths could rise to around 300,000 annually.

The report said China's newly released Beautiful China plan continues to prioritize air pollution control, with the strongest PM2.5 targets focused on key regions and higher clean transport targets included in the plan.