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Published: 10:17, May 31, 2022 | Updated: 16:30, May 31, 2022
China emerges from Omicron with improving PMI data
By Xinhua
Published:10:17, May 31, 2022 Updated:16:30, May 31, 2022 By Xinhua

Workers assemble vehicles at a SAIC Motor plant in Shanghai on April 23. (ZHU XINGXIN / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - China's manufacturing sector fared better in May, official data showed Tuesday, as more factories resumed production after the Omicron outbreak was brought under control.

The purchasing managers' index - a key gauge of manufacturing activity -- came in at 49.6 in May, up from 47.4 in April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

Among the 21 industries surveyed, the number of industries with PMI in expansion zone increased to 12 in May from 9 in April, showing positive changes in the country's manufacturing sector.

Zhao Qinghe, senior statistician from the National Bureau of Statistics

"China's economy took a hit from the Omicron outbreak and changes in the international situation, but it has improved in May due to the effective coordination of epidemic containment and economic and social development," NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said.

The sub-index for production stood at 49.7 in May, up 5.3 percentage points from the previous month, and the sub-index for new orders stood at 48.2, up 5.6 percentage points from April.

"Among the 21 industries surveyed, the number of industries with PMI in expansion zone increased to 12 in May from 9 in April, showing positive changes in the country's manufacturing sector," Zhao said.

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In May, the sub-index measuring supplier delivery time rose 6.9 percentage points to 44.1, indicating that logistics remained slow despite some improvement.

The purchase price index for primary raw materials stood at 55.8, 8.4 percentage points lower than the previous month, but still running at a relatively high level.

"The PMI rebound in May shows that the impact of the epidemic has been significantly reduced, and policies to stabilize growth have begun to show effects," said Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.

Zhang called for more effective coordination between epidemic containment and economic development, and greater efforts to unleash the potential of economic growth as soon as possible and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery.

A consumer buys tea at a shop in Shanghai's Jinshan district on Monday. (ZHU XINGXIN / CHINA DAILY)

Domestic COVID-19 infections have steadily declined in May, leading to the recovery of the service sector, NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said

Meanwhile, the PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 47.8 in May, up from 41.9 in April, NBS data showed.

Domestic COVID-19 infections have steadily declined in May, leading to the recovery of the service sector, Zhao said.

The sub-index for the service sector stood at 47.1 in May, up from 40 in April, according to NBS data.

Among the 21 sectors surveyed, industries including retail, railway and air transportation were in the expansion territory, Zhao said.

The new order index for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 44.1 in May, up from 37.4 in April, indicating rising demand in the market.

The construction sector has continued expansion, but the sub-index for the sector was down 0.5 percentage points from April to 52.2 in May.

READ MORE: China seen at forefront of global growth

Confidence in the market has increased for most non-manufacturing firms, with the sub-index measuring business activity expectations rising 2 percentage points from April to 55.6 in May.

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