China’s drone industry crosses US$14-billion mark in annual output in 2022 amid local market expansion into low-altitude logistics

The drone industry’s annual output reached US$16.5 billion last year, up more than 34 per cent from US$12.3 billion in 2021

The number of drone-related enterprises in the country reached more than 15,000 at the end of 2022, a 25 per cent increase from 12,000 a year earlier

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Parcel delivery giant SF Express has been at the forefront of testing large unmanned aerial vehicles in China to carry more goods over a longer distance than smaller delivery drones. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 5 Jun 2023Updated: 11:41pm, 5 Jun 2023

China’s drone industry crossed the 100-billion yuan (US$14 billion) mark for the first time last year, as market expansion into areas such as low-altitude logistics helped drive domestic demand.

The industry’s annual output reached 117 billion yuan last year, up more than 34 per cent from 87 billion yuan in 2021, according to Yang Jincai, chairman of the Shenzhen Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Association, in his presentation at the 7th Drone World Congress that was held from June 2 to 4, 2023, in Shenzhen.

Drone-related enterprises in the country surged to more than 15,000 at the end of last year, a 25 per cent increase from 12,000 in 2021, according to a report on the event by sznews.com, which is affiliated with the state-backed Shenzhen Press Group.

Registered drones across the country, meanwhile, totalled 95,000 in 2022, the report said.

Yang Jincai, chairman of the Shenzhen Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Association, presents the latest domestic market data at the 7th Drone World Congress that was held from June 2 to 4, 2023, in Shenzhen. Photo: SCMP

The industry has expanded in recent years, thanks to a combination of factors.

China’s drone industry crosses US$14-billion mark in annual output in 2022 amid local market expansion into low-altitude logistics

The drone industry’s annual output reached US$16.5 billion last year, up more than 34 per cent from US$12.3 billion in 2021 The number of drone-related enterprises in the country reached more than 15,000 at the end of 2022, a 25 per cent increase from 12,000 a year earlier

The drone industry’s annual output reached US$16.5 billion last year, up more than 34 per cent from US$12.3 billion in 2021

The number of drone-related enterprises in the country reached more than 15,000 at the end of 2022, a 25 per cent increase from 12,000 a year earlier