China's manufacturing sector maintained steady growth in the first four months of 2026, with a marked acceleration in its shift towards high-end and intelligent production, according to invoice data from the State Taxation Administration.

The data showed that sales revenue from China's manufacturing sector grew by 6.9 percent year-on-year from January to April. Sub-sectors including computer and communications equipment manufacturing, as well as electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing, all achieved double-digit growth.
The rapid development of AI-related industries and their deep integration with traditional manufacturing has become a powerful accelerator for industrial upgrading.
The embroidery machine manufacturing industry in Zhuji city, east China's Zhejiang Province, a region with long-standing advantages in this field, has emerged as a prime example of how traditional industries are benefiting from the AI-driven transformation.
Local enterprises have been integrating AI visual positioning and graphics computing assistance technologies into their products, launching ultra-high-speed embroidery machines that are more precise and run over 30 percent faster than traditional models. These innovative products have become instant market hits upon launch.
"From January to April this year, our company achieved 538 million yuan (about 79.5 million U.S. dollars) in sales revenue, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent. Meanwhile, we have also successfully tapped into international markets including India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt," said Yuan Huayun, administrative director of Zhejiang Promaker Intelligent Embroidery Equipment Co., Ltd.
Nationwide, sales revenues for high-tech manufactured products grew 14.9 percent year on year in the first four months, and increased their share of the revenue brought in by all manufactured products by 1.3 percent.
Revenues from electronic special materials manufacturing and integrated circuit manufacturing, which are directly related to AI production and application, surged by more than 50 percent, emerging as key drivers of the manufacturing sector's transformation and upgrading.