The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector was at 50.5 percent in January this year, down 0.5 percentage points compared to December last year but remaining above 50 percent for the 16th consecutive month, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In the given month, the production index for China's manufacturing sector was down 0.9 percentage points month on month to 53.0 percent, while the new order index for the sector decreased by 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous month to 50.9 percent. In January, the new export index for the Chinese manufacturing sector decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 49.3 percent, while the import index for the sector was down by 0.8 percentage points to 48.2 percent, both month on month.
The raw material inventory index for China's manufacturing sector was at 47.8 percent in January, up 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous month.
Also in January, the employment index for China's cstood at 48.2 percent, down 0.5 percentage points, while the supplier delivery time index for the sector in question was at 49.8 percent, down 0.7 percentage points, both month on month.