China’s manufacturing sector expanded for the tenth straight month in May, according to an official survey.
The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was 51.2 in May according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (a reading above 50 indicates expansion).
The sub-index for production stood at 53.4 in May, down from 53.8 in April, while the sub-index for new orders came in at 52.3 in May, unchanged from that in April.
Chen Zhongtao, an analyst at the China Logistics Information Center, said positive factors influencing the Chinese economy included balanced supply and demand, better company performances and a good jobs market.
The manufacturing PMI for medium-size enterprises was 51.3 in May, up from 50.2 in April; the PMI for small enterprises was 51 in May — the highest in five years.
Equipment manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing and consumer goods manufacturing continued robust growth, all registering above 52.