China Accelerates AI-Focused Data Trading Market

Key Points

• Data trading market cultivation accelerates as China’s National Data Administration implements unified marketplace reforms in 2026
• National data output reached 41.06 zettabytes in 2024, growing 25% year-over-year to fuel AI development
• Over 30 new standards for AI datasets, data infrastructure, and high-quality training data expected throughout 2026
• Data elements market projected to reach 198.9 billion yuan ($27.7 billion) by end of 2025
• Integration of data with artificial intelligence positioned as strategic priority for “Digital China” initiative

Background

Data trading infrastructure has emerged as a cornerstone of China’s digital economy strategy. Since 2020, Chinese authorities have worked to transform data into a recognized “factor of production” alongside traditional economic inputs like land, labor, and capital. The National Data Administration (NDA), established in October 2023, now leads this transformation through coordinated policy development and market reforms (ℹ️ China Daily).

China’s data trading ecosystem includes government departments, data enrichment companies, trading centers, and brokers connecting suppliers with users across industries. Local governments have established specialized exchanges like the Shenzhen Data Exchange, where private firms, state enterprises, and agencies can participate in data trading activities (ℹ️ RAND Corporation).

What Happened

China’s top data governance regulator announced plans to accelerate unified national data trading market cultivation in 2026 as part of broader “Digital China” development goals. At a national data work conference concluding December 30, 2025, the National Data Administration outlined reforms to smooth channels for data circulation and resource allocation while activating supply and demand across the data trading market.

The administration pledged to deepen integration between data-driven technological innovation and industrial applications, with particular emphasis on boosting artificial intelligence growth through strategic data leverage. According to the NDA’s conference statement, China’s total data output reached 41.06 zettabytes in 2024, representing 25% year-over-year growth (ℹ️ China Daily).

More than 30 new standards relating to public data, data infrastructure, AI agents, high-quality datasets, and sector-specific data catalogs are expected throughout 2026, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals (ℹ️ IAPP).

Why It Matters

The data trading market expansion carries significant implications for China’s AI competitiveness and digital economy trajectory. With core digital economy industries accounting for approximately 10% of GDP, efficient data trading mechanisms could unlock substantial value from China’s massive data resources.

“Data have been rapidly integrated into various areas like production, circulation, and consumption and are playing an increasingly pivotal role in bolstering industrial upgrades,” said Ouyang Rihui, assistant dean of the China Center for Internet Economy Research at Central University of Finance and Economics (ℹ️ China Daily).

Academics emphasize that accelerating integration between data elements and AI represents a critical competitive factor. Jiang Xiaojuan, a professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spoke about the need to increase high-quality data supply and accelerate construction of national computing power infrastructure to support AI development.

When full-year 2025 figures are compiled, China’s data elements market alone is projected to reach 198.9 billion yuan ($27.7 billion), reflecting rapid growth in data trading infrastructure (ℹ️ Macau News).

What’s Next

The National Data Administration plans to formulate and implement comprehensive “Digital China” development plans while fostering an open, shared, and secure unified national data trading market. Specific initiatives include promoting urban digital transformation, advancing data infrastructure development, and improving foundational systems for data management.

China will expand international cooperation in data trading governance, digital trade, and technical standards, actively participating in the formulation of international rules for the digital economy domain. By 2035, the nation expects to reach the global forefront of digital development.

Source: China Daily—Published on January 6, 2026
Original article: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202601/06/WS695c5e8aa310d6866eb32247.html