China's electricity consumption,a key barometer of economic activity,reached more than 2.51 trillion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter of 2026,up 5.2 percent year on year,according to data released Monday by the National Energy Administration.

A breakdown of the data shows robust growth across various sectors.

The primary industry saw a 7.1 percent increase in power consumption,bringing total consumption to 33.6 billion kilowatt-hours.

The secondary industry consumed about 1.6 trillion kilowatt-hours,up 4.7 percent from a year ago.Within this sector,the high-tech and equipment manufacturing industry posted particularly strong growth,with electricity consumption increasing 8.6 percent year on year.

The tertiary industry recorded 8.1 percent growth in power use,totaling 483.3 billion kilowatt-hours.Notably,the battery charging and swapping service sector consumed 37.6 billion kilowatt-hours,surging 53.8 percent,while the internet data service sector used 22.9 billion kilowatt-hours,up 44 percent.

In March alone,electricity consumption reached 859.5 billion kilowatt-hours,up 3.5 percent year on year.

China's economy grew 5 percent in the first quarter,outpacing expectations of some foreign institutions and reinforcing the country's role as a stabilizing force in an increasingly volatile global economy.