Growth in integrated circuit manufacturing up 31 percent, in drones up 15.7 percent, 16,000 new companies with foreign capital

This is according to data from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (May 14, 2026).

In the first quarter of the year, about 5.1 million new enterprises were registered in China. Strong growth was observed in high-tech manufacturing.

This number includes 2.074 million enterprises and 3.014 million individually owned businesses. By sector, the tertiary sector leads with 4.473 million new registrations, followed by the secondary sector with 396,000 and the primary sector with 229,000.

By the end of March, China had registered 26.848 million enterprises within the “four new economies” — new technologies, new industries, new business forms and new models. That is 6.8 percent higher than a year ago and accounts for 40.9 percent of all enterprises. The figures reflect a steady optimization of the industrial structure.

Accelerated growth was seen in high-tech manufacturing. The number of new registrations in integrated circuit manufacturing grew by 31 percent year on year. Manufacturing of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles — up 15.7 percent. The machinery sector saw 70,000 new enterprises. Manufacturing of railway, ship, aviation, aerospace and other transport equipment grew by 10.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of newly established enterprises with foreign capital also continued to grow. In the first quarter, 16,000 new enterprises were founded — 10 percent more than a year ago. Investments are concentrated in scientific research and technical services, as well as in the culture, sports and entertainment industries. Here, the number of new registrations grew by 16.9 percent and 15 percent respectively. This highlights the attractiveness of the Chinese market.

5.1 million new enterprises in three months. That is more than the population of an entire country. And half of them are in the field of new technologies. Chips, drones, space. Foreigners are also coming — up 10 percent. China’s market is not just surviving. It is restructuring on the fly. And doing it so fast that competitors do not have time to blink. The question is not whether growth will happen. It is already here. The question is who can offer something more innovative than Chinese startups. So far — silence. Only the sound of new registrations.