SHENZHEN’S catering and hospitality industries, heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a surge in electricity consumption in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, indicating a strong recovery.

Compared with data from the same time last year, the growth rate reached 42.3 percent, according to information from the Shenzhen branch of China Southern Power Grid.

The city’s electricity consumption in the first quarter of this year rose to 20.95 billion kWh, up 31.5 percent from 2020 and up 15.1 percent compared to 2019.

The figure suggests that Shenzhen’s economy has been rid of the difficulties caused by the pandemic and showed good momentum of growth, a Shenzhen Economic Daily report said.

The amount of electricity consumed by the secondary industries in Q1 2021 was 11.23 billion kWh, up by 29 percent compared to the same period last year.

Energy consumption for the tertiary industry in Q1 was 6.95 billion kWh, growing 43 percent when compared to the same period last year, while the residential electricity consumption was 2.76 billion kWh, an increase of 17.3 percent year on year.

In terms of the structure of electricity consumption, the secondary industry, tertiary industry and residential use accounted for 54 percent, 33 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

The proportion of secondary industries dropped from 57 in 2019 to 54 percent, signifying the city’s move from traditional industrial manufacturing to more high-end manufacturing.

The tertiary industry grew from 30 percent in 2019 to 33 percent this year, reflecting a robust development of commerce.

At the same time, all industries in the city used more electricity in Q1, as compared to the same period last year.

Three industries, specifically construction, wholesale and retail and leasing and business services, held the top three positions in terms of the growth rate of electricity consumption.

The construction industry’s electricity consumption had the highest year-on-year growth rate, reaching 67.8 percent. For subsectors, the recharge industry also saw fast growth rate in electricity consumption, reaching 184 percent year on year. 

(Wang Jingli)