The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.5 in March, up 0.3 points from the previous month and staying in the expansion zone, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
A worker inspects a machinery production workshop in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, on October 31, 2024. /VCG
Sub-indices of production and new orders were also up. Production rose marginally to 52.6 from 52.5 in February, indicating accelerated manufacturing activity, while new orders increased to 51.8 from last month's 51.1, signaling that the manufacturing demand continued to improve.
Supplier delivery time declined slightly to 50.3 from 51.0, nevertheless remaining above the critical point and suggesting that the manufacturing raw material supplier delivery time continued to accelerate, as per the NBS.