Kathmandu— China’s manufacturing sector is experiencing a significant shift toward high-end, smart, and eco-friendly production, creating new growth momentum for the world’s second-largest economy. By moving away from traditional, low-end manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports, various industries are integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices to secure larger global contracts and stabilize supply chains.

Advancements In Shipbuilding

The shipbuilding industry is undergoing a comprehensive upgrade as manufacturers pivot toward medium- and high-end vessels. Hengli Heavy Industry, based in Dalian, recently signed contracts for six very large ammonia carriers with three international shipowners, marking a significant expansion in the gas carrier segment.

Beyond vessel construction, the company has achieved a breakthrough in high-end marine engine manufacturing by delivering its first high-power LNG dual-fuel marine engine. “With independent manufacturing of high-end marine engines, rather than past reliance on imports, Hengli Heavy Industry has stabilized its own supply chain and filled a key gap in the country’s shipbuilding industry,” said Zhang Haoxu, director of external relations at the company.

Digital Transformation In Cable Manufacturing

In Ningjin County, a major cable hub, the integration of artificial intelligence is reshaping a traditional industry that has struggled with being “small, scattered, and low-end.” The development of the Yilanwang vertical industry large model has digitized the supply chain, allowing for real, closed-loop online transaction data.

This digital shift has also revolutionized local financing by lowering risk control costs for banks. For example, Hongliang Cable Co., Ltd. utilized bank credit facilitated by the platform to help a consortium of companies secure a major contract for a high-speed railway. Currently, the penetration rate of AI technologies among large industrial enterprises in China has exceeded 30 percent, with more than 65,000 smart factories already established.

The Shift Toward Green Steel

The steel industry is also seeing a profound transformation through decarbonization. At the HBIS Group Shisteel Company in Hebei Province, traditional blast furnaces have been replaced by electric arc furnaces. Since 2020, the company has eliminated high-emission iron-making procedures, using 100-percent scrap steel to reduce emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide by 75 percent.

This transition to green manufacturing has become a strategic business asset as global markets demand low-carbon materials. Zhang Xiaohui, deputy head of the rolling mill of Shisteel, noted that the company’s green credentials have allowed it to secure clients, such as a leading international bearing company, that were previously unable to find sustainable suppliers.

As these industrial sectors continue to prioritize carbon reduction and smart technology, the output value of national-level green factories now accounts for over one fifth of China’s total manufacturing output value.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.