China's factory activity grows at slightly slower pace

Reuters reports that data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that China’s factory activity growth slowed slightly in May as raw materials costs grew at their fastest pace in over a decade.

The official manufacturing PMI inched lower to 51.0 in May, against analyst expectations that it would remain unchanged from April at 51.1. The official PMI has stood above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction for over a year.

A sub-index for new export orders stood at 48.3 in May, down from 50.4 in the previous month and slipping sharply into contraction.

A sub-index for raw material costs in the official PMI stood at 72.8 in May, up from April’s 66.9 and hitting the highest level since 2010.

Prices for commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore and copper have surged this year, fuelled by post-lockdown recoveries in demand and easing liquidity globally.

In addition to surging raw material prices, Chinese factories are struggling with high shipping costs and an appreciating Chinese currency. Some are able to pass on the higher costs to overseas customers, while some small firms are stopping taking orders to avoid losses.

A sub-index for the activity of small firms stood at 48.8 in May, sharply down from April’s 50.8.

Firms continued to lay off workers and at faster pace, the official data also showed.

In the services sector, activity expanded for the 15th straight month, and at a faster pace, with the non-manufacturing PMI index rising to 55.2 from 54.9 the month before.