The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector was at 50.3 percent in March of the current year, up 0.1 percentage point compared to February, which is the first time the index has increased since November last year, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In the given month, the production index for China's manufacturing sector was up 0.1 percentage point month on month to 52.7 percent, while the new order index for the sector increased by 0.1 percentage point compared to the previous month to 50.6 percent. In March, the new export index for the Chinese manufacturing sector increased by 1.9 percentage points month on month to 50.1 percent, while the import index for the sector was up by 2.6 percentage points month on month to 49.1 percent.
The raw material inventory index for China's manufacturing sector was at 47.8 percent in March, up 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous month.
Also in March, the employment index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 48.3 percent, up 0.3 percentage points, while the supplier delivery time index for the sector in question was at 49.8 percent, down 0.1 percentage point, both month on month.
