A Haier advertisement is displayed on a large digital screen in a commercial district. [Photo/WeChat account: Haier_1984]

Qingdao-based Haier has retained sixth place in the 2026 Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands ranking, marking its 16th consecutive year on the list.

The ranking, released on Sept 9, valued the Haier brand at $52.63 billion. The combined value of the top 100 Chinese brands reached $1.37 trillion, achieving double-digit growth for the second consecutive year.

Kantar said innovation, differentiation and globalization are among the key forces shaping the growth of China's leading brands, as companies respond to a more competitive domestic market while seeking new opportunities overseas.

Haier has been expanding the use of artificial intelligence across businesses including smart homes, healthcare and the digital economy. In the smart home sector, it has developed Uhome, an industry-specific large language model, and an AI agent known as Xiaoyou. Its industrial internet platform COSMOPlat has also introduced an industrial world model for applications in sectors including home appliances, chemicals, automobiles and machinery.

Global expansion remains another major part of Haier's strategy. The company has established more than 10 research and development centers and 173 manufacturing centers worldwide, supported by a sales network of about 230,000 outlets.

Its products and services are now available in more than 200 countries and regions, reaching more than 1 billion households.

Haier has also expanded beyond home appliances into healthcare, the digital economy, robotics, new energy and automotive-related businesses, broadening the scope of its global operations.