China's technology companies are entering a new phase of global expansion. While manufacturing scale and cost competitiveness remain critical, lasting growth increasingly depends on their ability to identify local demand, define products, develop core technologies and build direct relationships with consumers, experts said.
Anker Innovations, the Changsha, Hunan province-based smart-hardware tech company known initially for charging accessories, offers a window into such a transition.
Dual-listed in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the company has directed proceeds into research and development, direct sales, supply-chain upgrades and global branding.
Anker generated 30.51 billion yuan ($4.25 billion) in revenue in 2025, up 23.5 percent year-on-year, with overseas markets contributing 96.6 percent. Charging and power-storage products remained its largest business, accounting for 50.5 percent of revenue. Meanwhile, smart-home products — including security cameras, robotic cleaners and creative printers — contributed 27.1 percent, while audio and visual products contributed 22.4 percent.
That diversification illustrates a broader structural change in the competitive logic of Chinese companies expanding abroad, said Li Yi, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.
