The value of Chinese brands listed among the 2026 list of the top 100 most valuable global brands has leaped by 32 percent year-on-year, significantly surpassing the global average growth rate, according to a report released by consulting firm Kantar.

Chinese brands are not only showcasing their innovative vitality and global competitiveness, but also transitioning from mere scale expansion to capability enhancement, according to the report released on May 14.

Chinese brands excel at making decisive judgments and acting swiftly in the early stages of emerging trends, and they effectively translate insights into tangible value through continuous iteration and experience optimization, according to the report. Such agility is becoming a crucial competitive advantage in an increasingly uncertain market environment, it stated.

For instance, Tencent, ranked eighth on the list, continues to leverage its ecosystem to enhance monetization capabilities through games, video account advertisements and cloud computing services. Alibaba, positioned at 19th, has stabilized its brand value through business structure optimization and user experience upgrades.

Huawei, ranked 41st on the list, defines artificial intelligence as the most certain strategic opportunity for the next decade, focusing on the definite demand for computing power and connectivity to enhance user lifecycle values. Also, Haier, positioned at 53rd, has embraced AI comprehensively throughout its processes, continuously strengthening its competitiveness in the internet of things ecosystem.

In addition to the 13 Chinese brands that made the top 100, another 14 Chinese brands and their related sub-brands are listed in global industry sub-rankings in the fields of alcohol, apparel, automobiles, food and beverages, media and entertainment, retail, and home care. These brands include Wuliangye, Anta, BYD, Nongfu Spring, WeChat, Pinduoduo and Liby.

"Behind the strong rise of Chinese brands, there exists a clear main line, which is to continuously expand the value boundary of the brand in consumers' lives. The brands begin with their existing advantages and precisely extend into more new growth spaces," said Zhang Lin, executive managing director of Kantar China.

Zhang said that in the process of globalization and long-term brand building, Chinese brands have been demonstrating sharper judgment and more decisive action, setting new references for global brand growth.

Kantar has stated that this year's list sends a clear signal that AI is rapidly reshaping the global brand value system, with brands unable to adapt to AI-driven transformations losing their competitive advantages.

Meanwhile, AI-native brands are rapidly emerging. Claude entered the global top 100 for the first time, ranked 27th with a brand value of nearly $100 billion. ChatGPT became the fastest-growing brand of the year, with its brand value increasing by an impressive 285 percent year-on-year.

Technology brands are showing strong dominance in the global top 100 rankings. Google reclaimed the top spot, with Nvidia, Amazon and Tencent making it into the top 10.

The total value of the annual top 100 most valuable global brands reached $13.1 trillion, up 22 percent from the previous year. Brand growth is entering a new acceleration cycle, said the report.

In this AI-driven global brand restructuring, Asian brands have been continuously expanding their influence in both domestic and international markets, with 23 Asian brands making the list this year, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global top 100.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn