The global manufacturing purchasing managers index for December 2017 was at 56.3 percent, which was the highest for the year.

Data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing together with the National Bureau of Statistics showed the global economy continued to strengthen. Asia is still the main force in the global economic upswing. Manufacturing in the continent grew at a faster pace. In Europe and America, the expansion was steady. Major European economies like Germany and France showed rapid growth. In the US, new orders reached the highest level for the year. African manufacturing was on a steady upward trend, especially in the fourth quarter.