(Yicai Global) May 28 -- The world's biggest telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co. ranked 79th in Forbes' 2018 list of the world's 100 most valuable brands, gaining nine spots from its position last year.

The Shenzhen-based firm was the only Chinese company to make the cut with an estimated value of USD8.4 billion, or 15 percent more than 2017. Huawei gained faster than the list average, which saw a combined value of USD2.15 trillion, 10 percent higher than a year earlier.

Apple Inc. crowned the list for the eighth straight year at nearly USD183 billion, climbing 8 percent on the year. Four more tech firms filled out the top five: Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., Facebook Inc. and Amazon Inc.

The range between brand values topped USD175 billion, with KFC Corp. coming in at number 100 with a USD7.4-billion worth. Only the top three companies racked up more than USD100 billion.

Editor: James Boynton