MNI DATA IMPACT: China April Manufacturing Positive

     BEIJING (MNI) - China's manufacturing Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) fell

to 50.8 in April from March's two-and-a-half-year high of 52.0 but remained in

the positive zone above 50. The data indicates that manufacturing activities

continued to improve after the coronavirus epidemic but at a slower pace, the

National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. 

     MNI highlights the following key points in the NBS statement:

     - The production sub-index decreased from last month's high base by 0.4 to

53.7, remaining in the expansionary zone above the break even 50.

     - The new order sub-index fell by 1.8 points to 50.2, indicating that the

recovery in demand lagged behind production. Some companies said they faced

sales difficulties amid sluggish market demand, the NBS noted.

     - The new export and import order sub-indices were 33.5 and 43.9, down 12.9

and 4.5 respectively from March. Some manufacturers reported a sharp decline in

newly signed export orders, and even orders which had been put into production

were cancelled, the NBS noted.

     - The non-manufacturing PMI rose to 53.2 from March's 52.3. The business

activity sub-index in the catering industry surged above 60.0 as consumers

returned to eating out. The index for the construction industry registered 59.7,

driven by policies to expand infrastructure investment, according to the NBS.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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