China factory output grows at fastest pace in 6 months: RatingDog PMI
China's private manufacturing sector continued to expand in October, with the RatingDog China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) reaching 52.0, the fastest growth since April, according to a private sector survey. The figure was slightly lower than September's 52.1 but met economists' expectations. The PMI remained above the 50-point mark, indicating expansion for the 11th consecutive month.
Meanwhile, China's official manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.3, falling into contraction territory and falling short of the forecasted 49.9. The divergence between the two surveys can be attributed to differences in coverage - the official measure includes more large and state-owned manufacturers, while the private survey has a higher exposure to smaller and private firms.
Official data revealed a slowdown in manufacturing production and new orders, with their respective sub-indexes sinking to 49.8 and 49.4. Conversely, the private survey highlighted a surge in factory output, which surged at its fastest pace since April, driven by increased new orders from both domestic and overseas markets. Total new orders grew for the 17th consecutive month, while new export orders expanded for the fourth month, though the export growth rate slowed to a three-month low.
Manufacturers ramped up purchasing activity to meet the heightened demand, with buying activity climbing at its fastest pace in eight months. However, employment growth remained sluggish, and the backlog of work increased for the ninth consecutive month. Price pressures were mixed, with input costs rising for the 16th straight month, although inflation eased from September.
Meanwhile, selling prices dropped for the second time in three months as fierce competition led firms to offer discounts. The Chinese yuan hovered near a more than four-year high against the dollar, fueled by exporters converting foreign-currency earnings into yuan, while the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite rose by 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively.
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