China’s factory activity grows at slower pace in July as output, new orders and employment soften
- Caixin/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) eased to 50.4 in July from 51.7 in June
- On Sunday, China’s official manufacturing PMI fell to 49.0 in July, down from 50.2 in June
China’s factory activity expanded at a slower pace in July, as growth momentum softened in output, new orders and employment, a private sector poll showed on Monday.
The 50-point index mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.
China’s major manufacturing hubs, including the commercial hub Shanghai, saw a solid rebound in June from widespread coronavirus lockdowns in spring, but the recovery has started to fade amid fresh virus flare-ups and weakening domestic and global demand, as well as a prolonged property market slump.
A subindex for output signalled a second monthly rise, but was noticeably slower than June.
Growth in new orders – domestic and export – also softened due to muted demand and the lingering impact of Covid-19 on client spending.
Due to the recent virus flare-ups and the lack of stock and staff at suppliers, the time taken for purchased inputs to be delivered to manufacturers increased in July.
The recovery in supply and demand failed to spill over into the labour market for manufacturing, which continued to shrink