Industry transformation, upgrading drive Ordos' development

The successful transformation and upgrading of its industrial economy over a 10-year period are widely said to have vigorously driven the rapid development of the city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Relying on the advantages of its local resources and strong industrial foundations, during the decade, Ordos has developed a first-class and high-quality industrial system.

Underpinning it are the mature coal, natural gas, chemicals, metallurgy, electric power and other energy resource industries.

Leading the way forwards are the new materials, new energy, advanced equipment manufacturing and other strategic emerging industries. Then reinforcing it all are the region's specialized labor-intensive industries – including textiles and clothing and the agricultural and associated products processing sectors.

From 2012 to 2021, the total industrial economy of Ordos increased steadily, with the added value of industries above a designated size increasing by 6.4 percent annually on average.

Meanwhile, the number of manufacturers above a designated size in the city – those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.78 million) or more – increased from 371 to 510 during the period. Also, the proportion of the total added value of the manufacturing industry in the industries above a designated size increased from 9.4 percent to 14.8 percent.

In the past 10 years, the total added value of industries above a designated size in Ordos had always ranked first in Inner Mongolia, with an average annual growth of 6.4 percent. 

In 2021, the enterprises above a designated size in Ordos generated an operating income of 684.76 billion yuan ($102.74 billion), 1.6 times that in 2012. Total profit came in at 192.92 billion yuan, 2.14 times that in 2012.

During the course of the decade, the industrial structure of Ordos has further improved.

In 2021, the manufacturing industry accounted for 14.8 percent of the city's total industrial added value above a designated size, an increase of 5.4 percentage points compared with 2012. And its operating income came in at 199.75 billion yuan and the profit margin of operating income reached 13 percent.

During the same period, the city's strategic emerging industries accounted for 7.8 percent of the total industrial output value above a designated size, an increase of 2.8 percentage points on 2012.