China issues two-year plan for electronics manufacturing

China has released a two-year action plan to stabilize growth in its vast electronic information manufacturing sector, setting targets for annual output and revenue increases through 2026. The action plan, unveiled by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), aims for an average annual growth rate of about 7% in industrial output from large-scale computer, communications and other electronic equipment sectors. Total revenue in lithium batteries, photovoltaics and components is expected to rise more than 5% per year. The government has also set specific product benchmarks: server sales exceeding CNY400 billion, a market penetration of large-screen TVs of more than 40%, and further advances in high-end, intelligent personal computers and smartphones.

The plan urged companies to make full use of China’s vast domestic market, strengthen their ability to control entire supply chains, and build resilience against external shocks. According to the plan, the country will help firms stabilize trade in core products such as mobile phones. It also doubled down on efforts to back domestic champions. It pledged to “unswervingly promote the use of homebuilt products”, and vowed stronger support for key firms in strategic supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, industrial control systems and the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. Meanwhile, the plan also called for accelerated breakthroughs in 5G and 6G components, semiconductors and intelligent computing, while fostering new markets for smart wearables, intelligent connected vehicles and digital health.

Wang Peng, Researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said: “The electronic information manufacturing industry is a strategic, fundamental and pioneering sector of the national economy. It is a key pillar for stabilizing industrial growth and safeguarding the country’s political and economic security. The action plan seeks to consolidate existing industrial capacity and foster and expand new growth drivers. By combining government support with market mechanisms, China aims to keep the sector on a steady growth path while positioning it to tap new demand both at home and abroad.”

Notably, on the consumer side, the plan seeks to stimulate purchases of PCs, phones and TVs, as well as AI-related consumer equipment through credit support, online marketing, and integration with e-commerce and retail promotions. It is also promoting smart devices in healthcare, transport, education and emergency services to open new growth areas. In the first quarter, output of computers reached 85.32 million units, up 9.6% year-on-year. Television shipments totaled 8.84 million units, a 4.7% increase and the second consecutive quarter of positive growth. In January-February, shipments of 5G smartphones hit 41.62 million units, up 7.6%, with domestic brands especially favored by consumers, accounting for 85% of shipments, he noted, as reported by the China Daily.