BEIJING -- 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.

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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.