23 February 2026
China’s anti-involution campaign was launched in July 2025 to much fanfare and was aimed at combating the intense “race-to-the-bottom” price wars and supporting sustainable industry growth. It initially worked with producer price inflation turning positive in sequential terms from October, led by a few sectors like aluminium, copper, and coking coal.
To date though, guidance has been largely advisory rather than compulsory, and included voluntary production cuts by industry associations, regulatory reforms, such as amendments to the anti-unfair competition law, and National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) meetings on the criteria for disorderly price competition. However, in the absence of robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, progress in industrial consolidation and enhancements to profit margins remain limited.
The anti-involution campaign is far more than just a slogan; Chinese authorities are working towards a unified national market and promoting fair competition. This strategic focus is highlighted in the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which stresses the urgent need to curb “involutionary competition” and rebalance the economy.
Indeed, involution frequently manifests as ‘predatory’ pricing that undercuts competitors with unsustainably low prices. To address this, we expect the government to step up endorsing and enforcing competition law principles and implement further measures to restore market order, while simultaneously balancing other policy objectives, including labour market stability and sustained economic growth.
The 15th Five-Year Plan stresses the need to increase domestic consumption as a proportion of GDP, necessitating policy measures that foster sustainable consumer demand growth. Presently, the most significant deflationary pressure originates from the Producer Price Index (PPI).
Source: CEIC, HSBC
Source: CEIC, HSBC
Meanwhile, supply-side reductions are underway, and these can be complemented by targeted demand-side initiatives, particularly those with a strong pull effect on upstream sectors. For instance, infrastructure investment focused on improving human well-being and quality of life, such as better intra- and inter-regional connectivity, and expanding social housing, can effectively reflate the economy.
Source: LSEG Eikon
* Past performance is not an indication of future returns
Source: LSEG Eikon. As of 11 February 2026 market close
Additional disclosures
1. This report is dated as at 16 February 2026.
2. All market data included in this report are dated as at close 13 February 2026, unless a different date and/or a specific time of day is indicated in the report.
3. HSBC has procedures in place to identify and manage any potential conflicts of interest that arise in connection with its Research business. HSBC's analysts and its other staff who are involved in the preparation and dissemination of Research operate and have a management reporting line independent of HSBC's Investment Banking business. Information Barrier procedures are in place between the Investment Banking, Principal Trading, and Research businesses to ensure that any confidential and/or price sensitive information is handled in an appropriate manner.
4. You are not permitted to use, for reference, any data in this document for the purpose of (i) determining the interest payable, or other sums due, under loan agreements or under other financial contracts or instruments, (ii) determining the price at which a financial instrument may be bought or sold or traded or redeemed, or the value of a financial instrument, and/or (iii) measuring the performance of a financial instrument or of an investment fund.
This document is prepared by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (‘HBAP’), 1 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong. HBAP is incorporated in Hong Kong and is part of the HSBC Group. This document is distributed by HSBC Continental Europe, HBAP, HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited, HSBC Bank (Taiwan) Limited, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad (198401015221 (127776-V))/HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad (200801006421 (807705-X)), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India), HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, HSBC UK Bank plc, HSBC Bank plc, Jersey Branch, and HSBC Bank plc, Guernsey Branch, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA DIFC Branch, HSBC Private Bank Suisse SA, South Africa Representative Office, HSBC Financial Services (Lebanon) SAL, HSBC Private banking (Luxembourg) SA and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (collectively, the “Distributors”) to their respective clients. This document is for general circulation and information purposes only. This document is not prepared with any particular customers or purposes in mind and does not take into account any investment objectives, financial situation or personal circumstances or needs of any particular customer. HBAP has prepared this document based on publicly available information at the time of preparation from sources it believes to be reliable but it has not independently verified such information. The contents of this document are subject to change without notice. HBAP and the Distributors are not responsible for any loss, damage or other consequences of any kind that you may incur or suffer as a result of, arising from or relating to your use of or reliance on this document. HBAP and the Distributors give no guarantee, representation or warranty as to the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this document. This document is not investment advice or recommendation nor is it intended to sell investments or services or solicit purchases or subscriptions for them. You should not use or rely on this document in making any investment decision. HBAP and the Distributors are not responsible for such use or reliance by you. You should consult your professional advisor in your jurisdiction if you have any questions regarding the contents of this document. You should not reproduce or further distribute the contents of this document to any person or entity, whether in whole or in part, for any purpose. This document may not be distributed to any jurisdiction where its distribution is unlawful.
The following statement is only applicable to HSBC Bank (Taiwan) Limited with regard to how the publication is distributed to its customers: HSBC Bank (Taiwan) Limited (“the Bank”) shall fulfill the fiduciary duty act as a reasonable person once in exercising offering/conducting ordinary care in offering trust services/business. However, the Bank disclaims any guaranty on the management or operation performance of the trust business.
The following statement is only applicable to by HSBC Bank Australia with regard to how the publication is distributed to its customers: This document is distributed by HSBC Bank Australia Limited ABN 48 006 434 162, AFSL/ACL 232595 (HBAU). HBAP has a Sydney Branch ARBN 117 925 970 AFSL 301737.The statements contained in this document are general in nature and do not constitute investment research or a recommendation, or a statement of opinion (financial product advice) to buy or sell investments. This document has not taken into account your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. Because of that, before acting on the document you should consider its appropriateness to you, with regard to your objectives, financial situation, and needs.
Important Information about the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (“HSBC India”)
HSBC India is a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. HSBC India is a distributor of mutual funds and referrer of investment products from third party entities registered and regulated in India. HSBC India does not distribute investment products to those persons who are either the citizens or residents of United States of America (USA), Canada or New Zealand or any other jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to law or regulation.
Mainland China
In mainland China, this document is distributed by HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited (“HBCN”) and HSBC FinTech Services (Shanghai) Company Limited to its customers for general reference only. This document is not, and is not intended to be, for the purpose of providing securities and futures investment advisory services or financial information services, or promoting or selling any wealth management product. This document provides all content and information solely on an "as-is/as-available" basis. You SHOULD consult your own professional adviser if you have any questions regarding this document.
The material contained in this document is for general information purposes only and does not constitute investment research or advice or a recommendation to buy or sell investments. Some of the statements contained in this document may be considered forward looking statements which provide current expectations or forecasts of future events. Such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. HSBC India does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Investments are subject to market risk, read all investment related documents carefully.
© Copyright 2026. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, on any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
Important information on sustainable investing
“Sustainable investments” include investment approaches or instruments which consider environmental, social, governance and/o r other sustainability factors (collectively, “sustainability”) to varying degrees. Certain instruments we include within this category may be in the process of changing to deliver sustainability outcomes.
There is no guarantee that sustainable investments will produce returns similar to those which don’t consider these factors. Sustainable investments may diverge from traditional market benchmarks.
In addition, there is no standard definition of, or measurement criteria for sustainable investments, or the impact of sustainable investments (“sustainability impact”). Sustainable investment and sustainability impact measurement criteria are (a) highly subjective and (b) may vary significantly across and within sectors.
HSBC may rely on measurement criteria devised and/or reported by third party providers or issuers. HSBC does not always conduct its own specific due diligence in relation to measurement criteria. There is no guarantee: (a) that the nature of the sustainability impact or measurement criteria of an investment will be aligned with any particular investor’s sustainability goals; or (b) that the stated level or target level of sustainability impact will be achieved.
Sustainable investing is an evolving area and new regulations may come into effect which may affect how an investment is categorised or labelled. An investment which is considered to fulfil sustainable criteria today may not meet those criteria at some point in the future.
