Guangzhou's economy surged in the first half of 2026, posting a year-on-year GDP growth of 5.8 percent to reach 1.6045 trillion yuan in constant prices, according to data released at a press conference on July 24.
The performance marks the city's highest mid-year growth rate since 2022, signaling a stable and improving economic trajectory.
A breakdown by industry shows balanced growth across the board: the primary industry grew by 3.2 percent, the secondary industry rose by 5.6 percent and the tertiary industry led with a 5.9 percent expansion.
The growth was primarily driven by industrial upgrading and emerging momentum, alongside stable agriculture and resilient consumption and logistics.
The value added output from industrial enterprises above a designated size grew 6.6 percent year-on-year. Traditional pillars provided solid backing, with auto manufacturing up 9.1 percent, electronics up 11.2 percent and petrochemicals up 5.2 percent. Meanwhile, new energy production spiked—the output of new energy vehicles and lithium-ion power batteries both soared by over 53 percent.
The pharmaceutical manufacturing sector made fresh breakthroughs, with value added output for biopharmaceuticals and medical equipment surging 21.9 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively. The expanded capacity in next-generation information technology drove output gains in analog chips (+20.9 percent), displays (+18.5 percent) and service robots (+13.5 percent).
In agriculture, the total output value of farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery rose by 4.5 percent, bolstered by specialty agricultural goods, such as ornamental fish (+40.1 percent) and flowers (+4.0 percent).
Additionally, the retail sales of consumer goods rose 2.9 percent, supported by dynamic online shopping. The city's major transportation hubs also maintained high passenger traffic and stable freight flows, reinforcing Guangzhou's role as a vital economic gateway.
Author | Dong Han
Photo | Nanfang Daily
