Key Results

• Companies are looking more positively at the Chinese economy: 
  37 percent predict an economic improvement over the next six months, compared to only 15 percent in 2025. Only 17 percent (previous year: 56 percent) expect a downturn.
• Industry development is gaining momentum: 
  34 percent of businesses (previous year: 19 percent) report improving conditions for their industry, while 33 percent foresee a deterioration (2025: 44 percent).
• Revenue and profit expectations are rising: 
  42 percent of survey participants anticipate increasing revenues by the end of 2026 (previous year: 29 percent), and 29 percent (2025: 18 percent) expect higher profits. 
• Almost two-thirds plan higher investments: 
  61 percent of businesses intend to increase their investments in China in the next two years (previous year: 53 percent), while only 11 percent (2025: 14 percent) plan to withdraw investments.
• Three quarters affected by the Iran conflict: 
  75 percent of companies report being impacted by the Iran conflict. 55 percent observe rising logistics costs, 47 percent mention higher procurement prices, and 20 percent report price increases for their own products.
• Triangle trade tensions affect the majority: 
  69 percent of respondents state they are negatively affected by the conflict between the USA and China, while 59 percent suffer from tensions between the EU and China.
• Tariffs between the USA and China less severe, sanctions gaining weight: 
  Although 69 percent of companies are still affected by US tariffs, this figure was 76 percent in the previous year. Only 42 percent (2025: 63 percent) of respondents are now affected by Chinese tariffs. 
  At the same time, US sanctions lists now apply to 44 percent of companies (previous year: 32 percent), and Chinese lists now cover 27 percent (2025: 21 percent).
• EU de-risking measures a top challenge: 
  The greatest business challenge for companies regarding China-EU relations is the European effort to reduce dependencies on China. 52 percent of companies experience this. Concerns about overcapacity and the trade imbalance with the EU worry 40 percent of respondents, while 32 percent see growing sensitivity in the EU regarding cooperation in certain areas as a challenge.