China Mobile Crowned China's Most Valuable Brand

China Mobile Ltd (NYSE: CHL, HKG: 0941), the world's largest telecommunications service provider by subscribers, has been ranked China's most valuable brand for a second year, according to a report by Millward Brown Optimor, a surveying unit owned by London-based advertising giant WPP Plc.

Calculated based on business performance and consumer feedback, China Mobile's brand is worth $56.07 billion. Snatching the second through fifth spots are financial companies, while hi-tech, retail, food and beverages brands are among the fastest improvers.

Sina Inc (NASDAQ: SINA), a web portal and the operator of Weibo, a Chinese social media site similar to Twitter, saw its brand value rise the most among companies that made the list two years in a row.

The top 50 brands, involving 19 industries, are worth a total of $280 billion.

The report also found that consumers were increasingly willing to pay more for a renowned brand following a spate of food safety scandals over recent years.

Although these brands are recognized domestically, few have made their names known outside the home market, the report added.

Top 20 by Brand Value:

1 China Mobile (NYSE: CHL, HKG: 0941): $56.07 billion
2 Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (SHA: 601398, HKG: 1398): $38.09 billion
3 Bank of China (SHA: 601988, HKG: 3988): $22.34 billion
4 China Construction Bank (SHA: 601939, HKG: 0939): $21.68 billion
5 China Life Insurance (NYSE: LFC, SHA: 601628, HKG: 2628): $18.32 billion
6 Agricultural Bank of China (SHA: 601288, HKG: 1288): $16.49 billion
7 PetroChina (NYSE: PTR, SHA: 601857, HKG: 0857): $14.22 billion
8 Tencent (HKG: 0700): $12.2 billion (internet)
9 Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU): $9.72 billion
10 Ping An Insurance (SHA: 601318, HKG: 2318): $8.44 billion
11 China Merchants Bank (SHA: 600036, HKG: 3968): $6.92 billion
12 Kweichow Moutai (SHA: 600519): $5.79 billion (liquor)
13 Air China (SHA: 601111, HKG: 0753): $5.54 billion
14 China Pacific Insurance (SHA: 601601, HKG: 2601): $3.55 billion
15 Wuliangye (SHE: 000858): $2.45 billion (liquor)
16 Lenovo (HKG: 0992): $2.32 billion (PC making)
17 China Unicom (NYSE: CHU, SHA: 600050, HKG: 0762): $2.31 billion
18 Suning Appliance (SHE: 002024): $2.2 billion (retail)
19 BYD (SHE: 002594, HKG: 1211): $2.11 billion (electric car and battery making)
20 Mengniu Dairy (HKG: 2319): $2.07 billion