China's digital product manufacturing sector continued its strong growth momentum in the first three quarters of 2025, with the added value of enterprises above designated size in the sector rising 9.7% year-on-year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

The growth reflects the rapid expansion of China’s digital economy, fueled by advancements in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), brain-computer interfaces, and the growing adoption of intelligent hardware and smart terminal devices.

"The sense of technological innovation and the future is everywhere this year," said an NBS spokesperson, noting that breakthroughs in AI and other emerging fields are not only reshaping consumer experiences but also accelerating industrial upgrades.

In addition to strong performance in digital product manufacturing, the value added by the information transmission, software, and IT services sector jumped 11.2% year-on-year in the January–September period.

Sub-sectors within high-tech manufacturing also posted standout growth:

• Smart drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) manufacturing surged 59.9% year-on-year

• Intelligent in-vehicle equipment manufacturing rose 25.1% year-on-year

The demand for computing power has also increased significantly, driven by the proliferation of large AI models and data-intensive applications. As a result, server production climbed 11.5% compared to the same period last year.

Analysts view these trends as signs that China’s strategy to prioritize digital infrastructure, AI applications, and smart manufacturing is paying off, despite challenges in traditional sectors such as real estate and exports.

The strong performance in the digital economy is expected to remain a critical growth engine as the country transitions toward a more innovation-driven development model.