China's Equipment Industry Up 7.1% in First Three Quarters, CNC Machine Tool Output Rises 13.5%

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on October 20, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported on China's industrial and IT development in the first three quarters of 2026. According to Wang Weiming, Chief Engineer of the MIIT, the equipment industry maintained a favorable development trend, with overall performance summarized as "stable, innovative and intelligent."

Data shows that the added value of the equipment industry grew 7.1% year-on-year in the first three quarters, contributing 26.6% of overall industrial growth and further consolidating its role as the "ballast stone" of industry. The supply of high-end equipment kept strengthening: output of industrial robots, CNC machine tools and new energy vehicles rose 29.1%, 13.5% and 11% respectively, while completed shipbuilding volume grew 50.7%.

Manufacturing models are also being reshaped. As the "AI + Manufacturing" initiative advances, China's self-developed AI full-direct-drive CNC machine tools have achieved breakthroughs, with overall performance 30% to 60% above national standards. More than 13,000 advanced-level and over 500 excellence-level smart factories have been built nationwide, along with 15 pilot-leading smart factories.

For precision parts machining service providers, the sustained growth of CNC machine tool output and high-end equipment demand signals expanding machining demand from downstream industries such as consumer electronics, new energy vehicles and robotics, pointing to a steadily growing market for precision manufacturing services. (Source: State Council Information Office press conference, MIIT, CCTV News)