China's power market trading volume rose 15.2% year on year in August 2026, extending a strong growth trend in market-based electricity transactions this year.

Trading volume across the country's power exchanges reached 754.8 TWh in August 2026, according to data released by the National Energy Administration on September 22.

Within-province trading accounted for 563.8 TWh, up 16.0% from a year earlier, while inter-provincial and cross-regional trading totaled 191 TWh, up 11.4%.

By contract type, medium- and long-term transactions accounted for 681.9 TWh, while spot transactions were 72.9 TWh. Green power trading reached 26.4 TWh, up 7.7% year on year. Market-based electricity purchased by grid companies on behalf of users totaled 78.2 TWh.

For January-August 2026, cumulative trading volume across the country's power exchanges reached 5,180 TWh, up 19.2% year on year.

Within-province trading was 4,026.4 TWh, up 21.5%, while inter-provincial and cross-regional trading totaled 1,153.6 TWh, up 12.1%.

By contract type, medium- and long-term transactions accounted for 4,617.3 TWh, while spot transactions were 562.7 TWh. Green power trading reached 218.2 TWh, up 6.1% year on year. Market-based electricity purchased by grid companies on behalf of users totaled 563.8 TWh.

The growth rate represents a sharp acceleration from the same period in 2025, when cumulative power market trading volume for January-August was 4,344.2 TWh, up 7.0% year on year, accounting for 63.2% of total electricity consumption.