China’s electronic manufacturing sector delivered robust growth in 2024, buoyed by significant increases in production, steady export recovery, and stable profitability despite global economic headwinds. Government policy support and focused investment in key areas, especially in integrated circuit production, underscore the industry’s resilience and capacity for long-term expansion. This review examines the year’s performance data and outlines a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2025, providing critical insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers.
On February 6, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published the 2024 data for China’s electronic information manufacturing industry.
China’s electronic information manufacturing industry—corresponding to the “computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing” category in the national industry catalogue—covers a vast array of products and components. This sector produces items ranging from mobile phones and computers to integrated circuits and photovoltaic products, making it a linchpin of China’s industrial framework. It plays a vital role in driving the country’s economic growth and technological innovation, and China has held the title of the world’s largest electronic information manufacturing nation since 2007.
In this article, we provide an in-depth overview of the sector’s performance in 2024 and analyze the growth outlook for 2025, highlighting production trends, export dynamics, profitability, and regional performance disparities.
In 2024, China’s electronic information manufacturing sector experienced steady expansion, driven by increased production, rising exports, stable profitability, and continued investment. The sector’s strong performance highlights its resilience despite global economic uncertainties.
The electronic information manufacturing sector saw an 11.8 percent year-on-year increase in value-added output for enterprises above the designated size (companies with an annual main business income of above RMB 20 million), outpacing the overall industrial sector by six percentage points and the high-tech manufacturing sector by 2.9 percentage points. In December alone, growth stood at 8.7 percent, indicating continued momentum.
Key product segments that showed significant increases include:
Notably, integrated circuits stood out with the highest growth rate among major product categories, signaling a strong push in semiconductor production, which aligns with China’s strategic focus on technological self-sufficiency.
The export delivery value for enterprises above the designated size grew by 2.2 percent year-on-year, improving by 0.9 percentage points compared to the January-November period.
According to customs data, in 2024:
Although export growth remains modest, the steady rebound reflects improving global demand. The integrated circuit segment’s double-digit export growth highlights China’s strengthening position in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Enterprises above a designated size reported a total revenue of RMB 16.19 trillion (US$2.27 trillion), an increase of 7.3 percent. Operating costs rose by 7.5 percent to RMB 14.11 trillion (US$1.98 trillion), leading to a total profit of RMB 640.8 billion (US$89.7 billion), up 3.4 percent. The profit margin stood at 4.0 percent, marking a slight improvement of 0.04 percentage points from the previous period.
In December, revenue reached RMB 1.74 trillion (US$244 billion), growing by 8.4 percent year-on-year. Despite the rising cost of operations, the sector maintained profitability, suggesting efficiency improvements and better cost control strategies.
Fixed asset investment in the electronic information manufacturing sector increased by 12 percent year-on-year, slightly decelerating by 0.6 percentage points compared to the January-November period. While this rate is marginally lower than the overall industrial investment growth (by 0.1 percentage points), it remains five percentage points higher than investment in high-tech manufacturing. This sustained investment reflects continued confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects.
In 2024, the performance of China’s electronic information manufacturing also varied across different regions:
In December, the Eastern region saw the strongest growth at 11.2 percent, while the Northeastern region continued to decline. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area recorded RMB 887.8 billion (US$124 billion) in revenue, a 17.8 percent increase, while the Yangtze River Delta region contributed RMB 4.54 trillion (US$635 billion), growing by 8.0 percent.
This uneven regional performance suggests that while coastal areas continue to drive China’s electronic manufacturing boom, inland and northeastern regions face structural challenges that may require policy support to foster growth.
Looking ahead, the electronic information manufacturing sector is expected to maintain growth in 2025, supported by ongoing policy initiatives and investment in key technologies. The government’s focus on domestic semiconductor production and supply chain resilience will likely drive further expansion in integrated circuit manufacturing.
Exports may continue recovering as global demand stabilizes, but geopolitical uncertainties and trade restrictions remain key risks. Companies will need to navigate evolving international regulations while strengthening their technological capabilities.
Investment is anticipated to remain robust, particularly in high-value areas such as artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and green manufacturing. However, rising operational costs and regional disparities could pose challenges. To address these issues, targeted policies promoting industrial upgrades and regional development will be critical.
Overall, China’s electronic information manufacturing industry is poised for another year of steady growth in 2025, with innovation and policy support playing key roles in shaping its trajectory.
China’s electronic information manufacturing industry displayed strong growth in 2024, with production, exports, and investment showing positive trends. However, regional disparities persist, and rising costs remain a challenge. The significant expansion in integrated circuit production and exports reflects China’s commitment to strengthening its semiconductor sector amid global technological shifts. Moving forward, sustaining growth while addressing cost pressures and regional imbalances will be key priorities for policymakers and industry leaders alike.
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