China’s factory activity cools
BEIJING: China’s factory activity grew at a slower pace in May but momentum in the services and construction sectors quickened, pointing to an uneven recovery in the world’s second-largest economy as businesses emerge from coronavirus-led shutdowns.
Manufacturing slowed for a second month although activity has revived from record lows in February, when the government imposed tough travel restrictions, quarantine rules and factory suspensions to curb the spread of the respiratory illness. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) eased to 50.6 in May from 50.8 in April, National Bureau of Statistics data showed
yesterday, but held above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction on a monthly basis. Analysts had expected a PMI reading of 51.
Export orders logged the fifth consecutive month of contraction, with a sub-index standing at 35.3 in May, well below the 50-point mark, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to take a toll on global demand. “Judging by the PMI sub-indices, the absolute levels of demand-related indices are way below the productionrelated ones, indicating a pronounced constraining impact from demand on production,” said Zhang Liqun, an analyst with the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP), adding that more than 50 percent of companies have reported a lack of demand.
Factories reduced headcount for the first time since they reopened, with a subindex falling to 49.4 from 50.2 in April, the survey showed.
In May, the PMI index for medium-sized and small enterprises fell to 48.8 and 50.8, respectively, while large companies reported a faster expansion in activity.
In an encouraging sign, the forwardlooking total new orders gauge showed an improvement to 50.9 from April’s 50.2, suggesting domestic demand could be picking up soon. “In the near term, we expect monetary policy to continue the ‘volume’ of credit expansion in order to stabilize growth and help fiscal expansion. In this regard, China’s domestic demand will likely continue to rebound,” analysts with investment bank CICC said in a note after the data release.
Hammered by the health crisis, China’s economy shrank 6.8 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the first contraction since quarterly records began. Analysts believe it will be months before broader activity returns to pre-crisis levels, even if a fresh wave of infections can be avoided. — Reuters