Output of equipment to help protect environment seen to total US$150b by 2020

China expects the output of equipment used to protect the environment to total 1 trillion yuan (US$150 billion) by 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said today.

Companies with annual sales exceeding 10 billion yuan will be nurtured to lead the industry, the ministry said, adding that hundreds of leading companies and thousands of innovative startups are also expected to bolster the industry’s development.

Equipment to curb pollution by traditional industries such steel, nonferrous metal, chemicals and building materials are needed to help upgrade China’s industrial structure, the ministry said. Advanced equipment such as robots and other  emerging industries such as the Internet of Things will help enhance efficiency while saving energy and cutting carbon emission.

By the end of 2016 the output of China’s environmental protection equipment totaled 620 billion yuan, doubling the figure of 2011.