In the first three quarters, electricity consumption in the five southern provinces and autonomous regions of China increased by 8.1% year-on-year.

On October 21, the China Southern Power Grid Company announced that in the first three quarters of this year, the total electricity consumption across five provinces—Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hainan—reached 1,278.6 billion kilowatt-hours, marking an 8.1% increase year-on-year. This surge in electricity use reflects a positive trend in economic recovery.

Looking at the performance by province, Guangdong maintained its position as the leader in electricity consumption, with usage hitting 690.4 billion kilowatt-hours and a growth rate of 7.8%. Meanwhile, Yunnan boasted the highest growth rate among the five provinces at 11.8%.

Breaking it down by industry, the first, second, and third sectors, along with residential use, experienced year-on-year growths of 4.5%, 8.4%, 8.8%, and 6.9%, respectively. Notably, the secondary industry emerged as a key driver of electricity consumption, contributing over 60% to the growth across these five provinces. The manufacturing sector, in particular, saw an electricity consumption rise of 8.7%, accounting for 46.5% of the total usage, thus playing a vital role in supporting the real economy.

Sector-wise, high-tech and equipment manufacturing in these provinces witnessed a significant year-on-year increase in electricity consumption of 12.5%, indicating that investments in these areas are gradually translating into production capacity.

Additionally, the recovery in the global electronics market and the booming artificial intelligence sector led to a remarkable 17% increase in electricity consumption within the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing industries. The demand in the electrical sector continues to surge, with home appliance brands expanding internationally, further boosting electricity consumption in electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing. Policies promoting the modernization of equipment are also showing noticeable effects, contributing to steady growth in general equipment, instrument, and specialized equipment manufacturing.

Moreover, the electricity consumption in the “three new” sectors—new technologies, new business formats, and new models—remains impressive, showcasing consistent growth of over 25% for the past 20 months.