China's GDP grew 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2026, reaching 107.1 trillion yuan ($16 trillion), data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday.

Overall, the country's economy sustained steady development despite pressures, the NBS said.

Value-added industrial output of major enterprises increased by 5.3% year on year from January to September. Notably, value added of equipment manufacturing grew at 10.2% year on year and high-tech manufacturing at 14.3%. Meanwhile, output of 3D printing equipment rose 62.5%, lithium-ion batteries grew 39.5% and industrial robots were up 29.1%.

Meanwhile, service sector value added grew by 5.2% year on year. Leasing and business services grew by 12.3%, information transmission, software and information technology services rose 10.4%, financial services was up 5.8% and accommodation and catering rose 5.5%.

Total retail sales of goods and services – a major indicator of the country's consumption strength – recorded a year-on-year growth of 2.6% over the same period. Business activity indices for telecommunications, broadcasting, television and satellite transmission services, monetary and financial services, and insurance were all above 55%, indicating business activity continued to be in growth territory – above the 50-threshold separating growth from contraction.

China's exports and imports in goods also maintained robust growth in the first three quarters, posting a year on year surge of 18.8% to reach a total of 39.9 trillion yuan traded. Of this, trade with Belt and Road partner countries increased 17.1%.

In the January to September period, China's fixed-asset investment, excluding rural households, fell 7.2%. However, investment in innovation-driven sectors held up well in the same period. Investment in intellectual property products rose 9.3% year on year in the same period, while investment in high-tech industries grew 4.9%.

(Cover via VCG)