China is stepping up efforts to boost domestic spending and U.S. retail giant Walmart is expanding across the country to meet demand.
A new Sam’s Club recently opened in Jiangsu Province in eastern China. Two more stores are set to launch in Shandong Province in May, while a second location is under construction in Liaoning Province in the north-east. The timing is no coincidence.
For years, China’s economy relied on exports and large-scale infrastructure investment. This year’s official work report (the document that sets the country’s economic priorities) placed “building a robust domestic market” first on the list for 2026.
The directive calls for upgrading consumer services, creating new shopping experiences, and actively expanding new areas of consumer spending.
The numbers suggest Walmart is already benefiting. The company reported net sales of $6.1 billion in China in its most recent quarter, up more than 19 per cent year-on-year.
Online sales rose 28 per cent and now account for more than half of total revenue in the market, highlighting how thoroughly e-commerce and physical retail have merged in China. Shoppers routinely order in-store products via apps and expect delivery within the hour.
Local governments are keen to be part of the expansion. Officials in provinces where new Walmart stores are opening have expressed hopes for deeper supply chain ties, greater procurement of locally made goods, and access to Walmart’s global retail network.
Authorities in Jinan, where one of the new Shandong stores is being built, project the site will generate roughly 1.5 billion yuan in annual sales and around 45 million yuan in tax revenue each year.
However, growth in consumer spending remains steady rather than rapid. Chinese households, still affected by years of economic uncertainty, are not rushing to increase spending.
A government directive can set direction, but it cannot manufacture confidence overnight.
Still, the alignment of interests is notable. Beijing wants stronger consumption, local officials want investment, and Walmart is seeking growth in one of the few major markets where it still has significant room to expand.
For now, all three are moving in the same direction.
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