(Yicai) Jan. 21 -- Shanghai’s gross regional domestic product rose 5.4 percent last year to more than CNY5.67 trillion (USD814.3 billion), exceeding the national growth rate for the first time since 2016, driven by the rapid development of strategic emerging industries.

The city’s economic growth in 2025 surpassed the national average after matching or lagging behind it for eight consecutive years, according to the statistical bulletin on Shanghai’s macroeconomic data for 2025 released today by the municipal bureau of statistics. Shanghai’s economic aggregate ranked fifth among global cities.

Data showed that the total output value of Shanghai’s industrial strategic emerging industries climbed 6.5 percent last year, accounting for 45 percent of the total output value of industrial enterprises above a designated size, defined as those with annual revenue of at least CNY20 million (USD2.9 million). This marked a notable increase from 43.6 percent in 2024. Output from the city’s three pioneer manufacturing industries rose 9.6 percent year on year to more than CNY2 trillion.

Among the three pioneer industries, integrated circuit manufacturing output surged 15.1 percent, while artificial intelligence manufacturing grew 13.6 percent. The bulletin did not disclose the full-year growth rate for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, though previously released data showed growth of 3.6 percent in the first three quarters.

This indicates that the total output value of Shanghai’s industrial strategic emerging industries is steadily approaching half of the city’s total industrial output, reflecting that the three pioneer industries, together with other strategic emerging sectors such as new energy vehicles, high-end equipment, aerospace, information and communication, new materials, and emerging digital industries, have truly acted as a ballast and growth pole for Shanghai’s economic expansion, Shen Kaiyan, director of the Institute of Economics at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told Yicai.

Official data also showed that Shanghai’s total retail sales of consumer goods increased 4.6 percent last year, exceeding the national average of 3.7 percent. Total fixed-asset investment rose 4.6 percent from the previous year, compared with a 3.8 percent decline nationwide. The city’s total foreign trade imports and exports reached CNY4.5 trillion, up 5.6 percent, also higher than the national average growth of 3.8 percent. Export values of emerging products such as integrated circuits, automobiles, and lithium batteries each recorded double-digit growth.

Shanghai has been steadfastly cultivating and expanding new quality productive forces, with new growth drivers developing at a faster pace and providing fresh economic vitality and sustained momentum, Zhao Wei, chief economist of Shenyang Hongyuan Group, told Yicai. He added that a series of policies introduced by the city to improve the business environment have also strengthened market expectations and confidence.

“The accelerated construction of Shanghai’s modern industrial system has played a very direct role in continuously enhancing the city’s urban function,” Zhao said.

Shanghai achieved resilient growth last year despite significant external uncertainties, Zhao noted. At a critical stage when strategic development opportunities and structural challenges coexist, the economic achievements made by the city last year have laid a solid foundation for realizing the goals of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, starting from this year, he added.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Emmi Laine