China's economy grows 4.5 percent in third quarter on export strength

China's economy grew 4.5 percent in the third quarter of 2026, official figures showed on Monday. This was faster than the 4.3 percent recorded in the second quarter, but slower than the 5 percent seen at the start of the year. The result met the lower end of Beijing's target range.

Exports were a key driver of growth. Shipments rose 36.3 percent in September compared to a year earlier, beating expectations. High-tech goods, batteries, and industrial robots all sold strongly abroad, partly because global demand for electronics has grown with the rise of artificial intelligence.

However, the domestic economy remained weak. Property investment dropped more than 20 percent in the first nine months of the year, and consumer spending stayed low.