China's 2014 industrial profits up 3.3%

A worker stokes the furnace at a Sanming Steel (Group) Co Ltd factory in Sanming, in Fujian province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

BEIJING - Profits of Chinese industrial businesses hit 6.47 trillion yuan ($1.05 trillion) in 2014, up 3.3 percent year on year, official data showed on Tuesday.

The growth rate was 8.9 percentage points lower than that of 2013, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

The bureau's calculations include companies with annual revenues exceeding 20 million yuan.

In December 2014 alone, these companies' combined profits fell 8 percent year on year to 850.73 billion yuan, widening from a 4.2 percent decline in November.

NBS statistician He Ping attributed the profit decrease to lower prices, rising costs and significant profit declines in the oil and coal industries.

Out of 41 industry categories, 28 reported year-on-year profit increases and two remained flat. Eleven industries, including oil and natural gas, saw profits fall.

The mining industry saw a 23 percent profit drop and raw materials registered a 1.4 percent drop, while the consumer goods industry reported year-on-year profit growth of 5 percent.

"This means that China's economic growth is shifting from investment-driven to consumer-led growth," said He.