The mainland's manufacturing activities expanded at the fastest pace on record last month as strong domestic demand helped offset slowing exports.
The purchasing managers' index compiled on behalf of the National Bureau of Statistics jumped to a peak of 59.2 last month from 58.4 in March, the highest since it was launched 28 months ago.
The index measuring new orders soared to a 12-month peak of 65 thanks mainly to the strength of growing internal demand, which indicates the nation may be able to ride out the worst of the global slowdown.
A measure of export orders declined for the first time in three months - to 58.9 in April from 59.1 a month earlier - the latest evidence of weaker consumer appetite in the United States and Europe, the mainland's top destinations for goods.
The figures reflect slowing growth in the first quarter amid the nation's worst snowstorms in 50 years and softening global demand. The economy grew 10.6 per cent in the first three months of the year compared with 11.9 per cent a year ago.
'An acceleration in economic growth last month was unlikely,' said Zhang Liqun, an economist at the State Council's Development Research Centre. 'The snowstorms slowed growth in the first quarter and the possibility of a further slowdown still exists on the back of uncertainty in domestic and overseas markets.' Slowing export growth has become more evident, with the number of US visitors to the Canton Fair two weeks ago dropping by 23.3 per cent. Those from Germany, Britain and France also dropped by double digits.
