China’s light industry sector experienced steady growth in 2025, with the added value of large-scale firms increasing by 5.3 percent year-on-year. Total revenue reached 23 trillion yuan (around US$3.31 trillion), while profit rates surpassed the broader industrial and manufacturing sectors, reflecting the sector’s strong performance.
Policy initiatives successfully boosted domestic consumer demand, with over 129 million home appliances and 12.5 million electric bicycles purchased through trade-in programs. Retail sales of 11 major product categories rose 7.8 percent, reaching 8.67 trillion yuan (US$1.25 trillion), accounting for 17.3 percent of total consumer goods sales.
Exports also improved, reaching US$911.46 billion in 2025, representing 24.2 percent of China’s total exports. Eleven out of 22 major export categories showed growth, while shipments to Belt and Road countries and the EU rose by 1.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, signaling progress in diversifying international markets.
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