Industries with the Biggest Increase in Profit Margin in China in 2024

1. Airlines in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 50.1pp

Over the five years through 2023, revenue for the airline industry in China has fallen at a CAGR of 10.6% to a total of $49.2 billion. This includes a growth of 53.2% in the current year. The Airlines industry has been affected by COVID-19 for three consecutive years since 2020. Total passenger volumes declined by 37.7% in 2020 to 417.8 million and grew slightly by 5.5% to 440.8 million in 2021. In 2022, passenger volumes declined by 43.2% to 250.2 million.

The industry is subject to fierce competition, leading to low-profit margins. The challenges faced in the past five years include... Learn More

2. Thermal Power Generation in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 9.5pp

Over the five years to 2023, industry revenue has fluctuated but performed solidly, rising at an annualized 4.9%. Strong growth of renewable energy – like hydroelectric power and wind power – has afflicted thermal power generation. In 2021, revenue from the Thermal Power Generation industry in China increased by 15.8% due to the rising thermal power output and the increasing on-grid price of coal-fired electricity. In 2023, industry revenue is estimated at $320.4 billion, up 4.7% from 2022. The industry suffered losses in 2021 and 2022, due to the sharp rise of coal prices. Profit margins have recovered to 1.0%... Learn More

3. Bus Transportation in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 7.7pp

Revenue for the Bus Transportation industry is expected to fall at an annualized 3.0% over the five years through 2023. This trend includes anticipated revenue rise of 34.9% in the current year, to $20.2 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant decreases in 2020 and 2022. The industry is expected to include 3,753 bus transportation establishments in 2023, employing approximately 930,410 people. However, industry enterprises are governed by local governments, which standardizes the industry's development. The industry is featured as public interest. Industry enterprises generally operates in losses and rely on government subsidies.

As one of the main urban public transportation... Learn More

4. Hotels in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 3.7pp

Industry revenue for the Hotel industry in China is expected to decrease at a CAGR of 2.1% over the five years through 2023, to $68.1 billion. This trend includes an expected increase of 35.2% in the current year.

Industry globalization has declined over the past five years, along with the average star rating of hotels operated by industry enterprises. Foreign investment is particularly low for hotels with a one-star rating. Price is a particularly important basis of competition in this segment, and other factors like services and brands play much smaller roles in attracting customers.

Foreign enterprises, which significantly influence the industry's... Learn More

5. Insurance Brokers & Adjusters in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.9pp

The development of China's Insurance Brokers and Adjusters industry is in line with its developing insurance sector. Over the five years through 2023, the industry grew at an annualized 4.9% to $66.9 billion. This trend includes a 4.5% increase in 2023.

In 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated the economy, resulting in real GDP growth slowing to 3.0%. Chinese residents' income growth has also slowed down, resulting in weakened insurance demand. Insurance premium income decreased by 1.0% in 2022, especially for life insurance products; its premium income dropped 2.0% year on year, mainly because residents were suggested to stay at home... Learn More

6. Securities Brokerage and Transaction Services in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.7pp

Over the five years through 2023, revenue for the Securities Brokerage and Transaction Services industry has been increasing at an annualized 16.4%, to $31.2 billion. This includes expected industry revenue increase of 12.3% in the current year. Due to uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19, the international political geopolitical crisis and the fluctuation of the international financial market, the industry experienced significant fluctuations over the last five years. The competition in the industry is very fierce. The brokerage business of securities companies is seriously homogenized, and the commission price war leads to more fierce competition.

In 2016 and 2017, industry revenue... Learn More

7. Securities Investment in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.7pp

Over the five years through 2023, revenue for the Securities Investment industry has been increasing at a CAGR of 13.5%, to $19.4 billion. This includes expected industry revenue increase of 12.9% in the current year. Due to uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19, the international political geopolitical crisis and the fluctuation of the international financial market, the industry experienced significant fluctuations over the last five years.

The strong growth of 46.5% and 40.5% in 2019 and 2020 was due to the surging initial public offering (IPO) activities in China and the strong performance of securities investments. In 2018 and 2022, due... Learn More

8. Harbor & Port Operations for Freight in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.3pp

China is the largest country for harbor and port operations in the world in terms of cargo throughput, with 15.7 billion tons in 2022. Revenue for the Harbor and Port Operations for Freight industry in China is anticipated to rise at an annualized 3.5% over the five years through 2023. Revenue is expected to total $80.0 billion in the current year, up 3.4% from 2022.

The outbreak of COVID-19 towards the end of 2019 in China has constrained demand for industry services in 2020. Total cargo throughput of harbor and port operations in China increased by 4.3% in 2020. In 2022,... Learn More

9. Couriers in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.2pp

The Courier industry is a relatively new business segment in China. In its modern form, it has existed for about 30 years. Industry demand was supported by the increasing income levels and purchasing power of Chinese residents. Industry's performance is also closely related to the development of ecommerce market in China, especially the online shopping market, as it depends heavily on couriers delivering goods purchased online. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized 12.4% over the five years through 2023, to $182.8 billion. This trend includes a 15.0% jump in the current year.

Online shopping market has developed... Learn More

10. International Express Service in China

Percentage Point Increase for 2024: 2.2pp

China's International Express Service industry has experienced substantial growth in the past decade, mainly due to improving economic conditions, rising residential income levels and better infrastructure. Industry performance is also closely related to China's cross-border ecommerce market development. Industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized 15.6% over the five years through 2023, to $20.4 billion. This includes 16.6% growth in 2023.

The cross-border ecommerce market has developed rapidly, benefiting from more Internet users and government support. As of 2022, the number of Internet users in China has reached 1.1 billion and the Internet penetration rate across the total population... Learn More