Business · Economy · 37 mins ago
China's manufacturing activity contracts in October as PMI falls to 49.3
China’s manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3 in October, slipping below 50, the line between expansion and contraction.
The National Bureau of Statistics said production and new orders both weakened, with the national holiday and a complex international environment among the factors.
The measure had been above 50 in September, so the October reading marked a return to contraction.
High-tech and equipment manufacturing remained in expansion, with PMIs of 51.3 and 50.6, while consumer goods and energy-intensive industries were below 50.
The figures show that activity weakened across much of manufacturing, although some technology and equipment sectors continued to grow.
Smaller and medium-sized manufacturers also remained in contraction, while large manufacturers were just above the 50 threshold.
The data give a snapshot of factory conditions, but no further policy response or next step was reported.
China’s manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3% in October, below the 50-point threshold for the first time in two months.
The index was down 0.8 percentage points from September, as production and new orders weakened.
The non-manufacturing business activity index fell 0.5 percentage points to 49.7%.
The composite PMI output index dropped 1.0 percentage point to 49.7%, indicating an overall slowdown in business activity.
- Who
- China’s National Bureau of Statistics released the figures. The data cover manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity.
- What
- China’s manufacturing, non-manufacturing and composite PMI measures fell in October.
- When
- October 2026; the figures were released on October 31.
- Where
- China.
- Why
- Manufacturing production and new orders weakened, while non-manufacturing activity and demand also declined.
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- Manufacturing PMI
- 49.3% in October, down 0.8 percentage points from September
- Large enterprises
- PMI of 50.2%, still above the 50-point threshold
- Small enterprises
- PMI of 47.5%, down 1.4 percentage points
- Non-manufacturing activity
- 49.7%, down 0.5 percentage points
- Composite PMI output
- 49.7%, down 1.0 percentage point