China’s Economic Growth Accelerates, Driven by Exports and Artificial Intelligence
China’s economy grew by 4.5% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, exceeding analysts' forecasts of 4.4% and improving upon the 4.3% growth recorded in the previous quarter.
This performance was bolstered by strong exports and industrial production, alongside rising demand for artificial intelligence technologies, data center components, and semiconductors.
On a quarterly basis, the economy grew by 1.2%, outperforming the 1.1% forecast. For the first nine months of the year, growth reached 4.6%—remaining within Beijing’s target range of 4.5% to 5%—even as the economy continues to rely on exports and the industrial sector as its primary growth drivers.
