Brand Finance, a brand valuation consultancy based in London, released its "Brand Finance China 500 2026" report. The report indicates that the total brand value of China's top 500 brands has surpassed $2.1 trillion, representing a 7.6% year-on-year increase. The top 10 brands alone account for 36% of the total value.

Douyin, with a brand value of $153.54 billion, retains its position as China's most valuable brand for the third consecutive year, rising to sixth globally with a 45.1% year-on-year growth, continuing to challenge traditional Western giants in social and digital commerce globally. State Grid secures the second spot nationally and tenth globally with a brand value exceeding $100 billion, marking a historic high. It is followed in the financial sector by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, and Agricultural Bank of China. The simultaneous inclusion of these four major banks in the global top twenty underscores the steady enhancement of China's influence in global finance. In the new energy sector, brands like BYD Company Limited and CATL are accelerating their overseas expansion, continuously increasing their market share in Europe and Southeast Asia, becoming emblematic of the shift from "Made in China" to "Created in China." Furthermore, reflecting the robust resilience and innovative vitality displayed by Chinese brands amid industrial transformation, a total of 29 automotive brands entered the China 500 Most Valuable Brands list this year. Their cumulative brand value reached $54.6 billion, constituting 3% of the list's total value and achieving a 10% year-on-year growth. Within this leading group, BYD Company Limited maintains its top position with a brand value of $17.3 billion, a 23% increase year-on-year. Geely Auto ranks second with a $4.5 billion brand value, up 26% year-on-year. AITO secures the third spot with a $3.4 billion brand value and, with a Brand Strength Index score of 78, is recognized as the strongest Chinese automotive brand of the year. In countries along the Belt and Road initiative and other emerging markets, the penetration rate of Chinese brands continues to rise. Brands in infrastructure, telecommunications, and new energy are building differentiated competitive advantages through technology exports and localized operations, becoming significant growth drivers in their global strategies. In the "Brand Finance China 500 2026" ranking, Pop Mart enters the list for the first time with a brand value of $3 billion, securing the 106th position. David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, commented in the report: "Looking back to 1996, the global brand landscape was dominated by traditional consumer brands. Since then, the rise of technology and digital services, the shift from single products to ecosystems, the growing influence of B2B brands, and the increasing importance of city and nation brand building have fundamentally reshaped how value is created." Haigh believes these industrial transformations have not only rewritten the rules of brand competition but have also redefined the logic behind brand value generation. The analysis reveals a key insight: the surge in Chinese brand value is underpinned by the rise of China's soft power. The "Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2026" report shows China ranks second globally with a score of 73.5, the only country in the top ten to see its score increase. China's international reputation ranking has surpassed that of the United States for the first time, leading in 19 out of 35 individual metrics. The positive correlation between commercial brand value and national soft power has never been more pronounced. The report analyzes that as the "China fever" continues on global social media, inbound tourism to China recovers robustly, and the global appeal of Chinese culture climbs, international perception of "Made in China" is undergoing a profound transformation—from "cheap outsourcing" to a "source of cutting-edge technology and cultural trends." This "advancement of trust," facilitated by the improved national image, significantly reduces the customer acquisition costs for Chinese brands overseas, directly translating into commercial premiums. Chen Yideng, Managing Director of Brand Finance China, analyzed: "Over the past decade, the world has witnessed the successful transition of Chinese brands from 'scale expansion' to 'value leadership.' Today, Chinese brands are no longer merely challengers on price. By excelling in user experience and pioneering technological iteration, they have become the preferred choice for global consumers." Chen believes this transformation resonates precisely with the rise of China's national soft power. Looking ahead, with continuous empowerment from new quality productive forces, breakthroughs in technological innovation, and the further expansion of soft power influence, Chinese brands are poised to occupy more central positions in the global value chain. They are expected to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global brand development, aiding in the construction of a more diverse and inclusive new global economic order.