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China's Q1 GDP Grows 5.0%, Rebounding After Three Quarters
China's Q1 GDP Rises 5.0%, Rebounding for First Time in Three Quarters
On April 16, 2026, the National Bureau of Statistics of China announced that the country's first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 33.4193 trillion yuan, marking a 5.0% year-on-year increase. This figure is 0.5 percentage points higher than the previous quarter and represents a rebound after three quarters of decline. Mao Shengyong, Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Statistics, stated that the national economy had a smooth start, with its resilience and vitality becoming more apparent. Notably, the production of 3D printing equipment, lithium-ion batteries, and industrial robots showed significant growth.
Impact of the Iran War and Future Outlook
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had previously lowered China's GDP growth forecast for this year from 4.5% to 4.4%, citing the impact of the Iran War. However, China's first-quarter growth appears robust despite these concerns. Ding Shuang, Chief Economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, suggested that while the Middle East conflict's impact might intensify in the second quarter, China has effectively absorbed shocks due to its diversified energy supply system. Weikai Securities projected that strong policy support and active economic activity contributed to the high first-quarter growth, but they anticipate a slowdown to around 4.8% in the second quarter due to Middle East tensions and reduced holiday effects.
*Source: 뉴시스 (2026-04-16)*
