(Yicai) May 27 -- China's industrial profits grew at a faster pace in April, buoyed by sustained policy measures, according to the latest official data.

Profits at large industrial enterprises widened 3 percent in April from a year earlier, compared with a growth of 2.6 percent in March, figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed today.

In the first four months of the year, industrial profits rose 1.4 percent, versus a 0.8 percent increase in the first three months of the year, continuing the recovery trend, according to NBS data.

Industrial production has achieved rapid growth, boosting the profits of large firms, said Yu Weining, a statistician at the NBS. Industries engaged in new quality productive forces, such as equipment and high-tech manufacturing, have experienced great profit growth, highlighting the resilience of the industrial economy, he added.

Profits from equipment manufacturing climbed 11.2 percent in the four months ended April 30 from a year earlier, up from 6.4 percent in the first quarter, NBS data showed. This sector contributed 3.6 percentage points to the overall industrial profit growth, up from 2 percentage points, highlighting its prominent supporting role, Yu noted.

Profits from high-tech manufacturing jumped 9 percent in the first four months of the year, compared with 3.5 percent in the three months ended March 31. The industry's growth rate is 7.6 percentage points higher than the average among large industrial enterprises.

The effects of China's new round of equipment upgrades are becoming increasingly evident, driving the profits from the specialized equipment and general equipment industries to widen 13.2 percent and 11.7 percent, respectively, in the first four months of the year, collectively contributing 0.9 percentage point to the profit growth of large industrial enterprises.

Also the effects of enhanced and expanded consumer goods trade-in programs are clear. Profits from industries such as the manufacturing of specialized accessories for household electrical appliances, household kitchen appliances, and non-electric household utensils soared 17.2 percent, 17.1 percent, and 15.1 percent, respectively.

There is still room for further improvements in industrial profits in the future, said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank. Policies will further boost industrial profits through measures such as upgrading key industries, providing financing support, stimulating demand, and optimizing costs, he predicted.

However, Wen also warned that the slowdown in export growth and the differentiation in the real estate market could exert pressure on the profits of industrial enterprises.

Editor: Futura Costaglione