Tax data reveals 13.9 pct surge in China's high-tech industry sales in 2025

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's high-tech sector demonstrated robust expansion in 2025, with sales revenue climbing 13.9 percent year on year, according to the latest tax data released by the State Taxation Administration.

The data shows sales revenue in high-tech manufacturing grew 10.1 percent over the previous year while that in high-tech services surged 16.6 percent.

Strategic emerging industries, including next-generation information technology, biotechnology, and new energy, formed key growth pillars throughout the year.

A vivid illustration of this trend emerged in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei province, where optical module manufacturer Wuhan Huagong Genuine Optics Technology has ramped up production to meet surging global demand for data center components.

The company has recently launched a new generation of high-speed, low-power optical modules critical for AI-driven computing infrastructure, with its overseas revenue jumping nearly 200 percent year on year in 2025.

"Our products are exported to North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. We have already positioned ourselves on the most advanced optical module technology roadmap and will further increase our innovation investment, striving to achieve a five- to 10-fold growth target this year," said Xu Qijian, deputy general manager of the company.

Hubei Province has emerged as a national photonics powerhouse, with the scale of its optoelectronic information industry surpassing 1 trillion yuan (about 144 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025. The province is now home to over 17,000 optoelectronic information enterprises, including two with annual revenues exceeding 100 billion yuan (about 14.38 billion U.S. dollars), and 11 surpassing 10 billion yuan, creating a dynamic ecosystem where industry leaders and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) advance in tandem.

"In 2025, key industries in Hubei Province, including optical communications and lasers, integrated circuits, new display devices, and smart terminals, recorded invoiced sales totaling 579.24 billion yuan (about 83.29 billion U.S. dollars), with the optical communications and laser sector accounting for the largest share and posting a year-on-year growth of 20.4 percent," said Liu Qunxiang, an official with the Hubei provincial taxation bureau.

Nationally, several high-tech subsectors delivered standout performances in 2025, with sales revenue in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, integrated circuit production and biopharmaceutical manufacturing soaring 25.1 percent, 19.2 percent and 7.7 percent year on year, respectively.

Tax data reveals 13.9 pct surge in China's high-tech industry sales in 2025

Cubans are navigating lengthening blackouts and longer lines for fueling as the United States moves to cut all oil shipments to the Caribbean country.

On Friday, the U.S. government formally announced its threat to impose tariffs on goods exported to the United States from countries that supply oil to Cuba, a move that marks a further escalation of U.S. economic blockade against the island country.

At a gas station in Havana, the line stretches nearly 700 meters, with drivers saying that they began queuing the night before in hopes of securing some gasoline.

"I've been in line since last night, just to see if I can get any fuel. The line stretches through four or five blocks," said Yadier Lorenzo, a local resident.

Fuel shortage has severely affected electricity supplies nationwide. Power outages have become more frequent, which also disrupt internet access and water services, further straining daily life and economic productivity.

"Sometimes we have fuel but no electricity, or electricity but no internet. It's a complicated situation," said Cristian Caballero, another Havana resident.

"In just the past week, we've had about 26 hours of blackouts," said Fernando Blanco, a resident.

Facing the difficult time, many Cubans said they will not be defeated by the United States.

"The U.S. blockade is hurting ordinary Cubans. We can't use public transport, we generate less electricity, and fuel is vanishing. Everything is reduced. It's simply inhumane," said Mayra, a local resident.

"What the United States is doing to the Cuban people has serious consequences. They want to destroy us, children, the elderly, everyone. But we will find ways to move forward," said Evidio Aliaga, another resident.

While U.S. officials claim to support "freedom for the Cuban people," their actions have only made daily survival increasingly difficult for ordinary Cubans.

To offer relief, Mexico announced on Sunday that it will send humanitarian aid to Cuba, including food and basic supplies.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the shipments will be handled by the Mexican navy.

Discussions on whether to include oil in the aid package are underway via diplomatic channels.

Cubans struggle with blackouts, fuel shortage amid mounting US pressure