China's manufacturing PMI up to 50.1 in Nov, back in expansion

The official purchasing managers index for China's manufacturing sector increased to 50.1 in November from 49.2 in October, marking a four-month high and indicating accelerated activities in the sector, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.

The PMI has returned into the expansionary territory after two consecutive months of contraction, thanks to stronger production levels, stabilized supply of energy and raw materials, and improving market demand.

A PMI reading above the 50 mark indicates expansion, while one below the number points to contraction.

"A series of policy measures to ensure energy supply and stabilize market prices have borne some fruits. The tight supply of electricity eased while prices of some raw materials dropped significantly in November," said Zhao Qinghe, a senior NBS statistician.

The sub-index of production rose to 52 in November from 48.4 in October as production activity recovered amid rising supply of electricity, according to the bureau.

Meanwhile, the sub-gauges of raw material prices and factory-gate prices dropped to 52.9 and 48.9 last month, versus 72.1 and 61.1 a month earlier, respectively, signaling softened momentum of rising industrial goods prices.

China's non-manufacturing PMI edged down to 52.3 in November from 52.4 in October, as the expansion in services activities slowed down due to local COVID-19 cases while infrastructure construction activities accelerated.

The composite PMI, which covers the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, went up to 52.2 from October's 50.8, indicating that economic activities have sped up from the previous month, according to the NBS.