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Manufacturers shift to high gear in March as demand increases
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GROWTH in China’s manufacturing sector picked up more than expected in March as authorities lifted winter industrial pollution restrictions and steel mills cranked up production as construction activity swings back into high gear.
The official Purchasing Managers’ Index released on Saturday rose to 51.5 in March, from 50.3 in February, and was well above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.
Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast the reading would pick up slightly to 50.5. February’s figure had been the lowest in 18 months, but many analysts suspected it was due to disruptions related to the long Lunar New Year holidays.
The March survey showed manufacturers shifted into higher gear as seasonal demand picked up. The sub-index for output jumped to 53.1 from 50.3 in February, while total new orders rose to 53.3 from 51.0 and export orders climbed to 51.3 from 49.0.
Driving the positive sentiment are better-than-expected exports in the first two months of the year, particularly in tech shipments, the fastest-growing segment of China’s industrial sector.
A sub PMI for the high-tech manufacturing sector stood at 53.2 in March, down from 54.0 in February.
This spring could see a major test of Chinese manufacturers’ surprising 18- month run.
In the first quarter, China’s steel companies defied expectations for a winter lull and continued to ramp up output in response to strong sales, while boosting borrowing, capital expenditure and hiring, a survey from the China Beige Book showed on Wednesday.
Production increased further after winter smog controls expired on March 15 in many areas.
A separate PMI on the steel sector rose to 50.6 in March from 49.5 in February, according to the China Logistics Information Center.
But the burst in output has pushed steel inventories to multi-year highs, sending prices sharply lower and reducing mills’ profit margins.
At the same time, growth in property sales and new construction starts appears to be slowing, and the government has hit the brakes on some local governments’ infrastructure spending due to concerns over high debt levels.
Overall, China’s economic data so far this year suggest the economy has carried more growth momentum into the first quarter from last year than expected, with a government think tank forecasting the economy will grow 6.9 percent in the first half.
That would keep synchronized global growth on track for a while longer. But economists are sticking to forecasts that China’s pace will slow to around 6.5 percent by the end of the year, weighed down by the cooling property market and rising borrowing costs, even if there are no global trade shocks.
Boosted by government infrastructure spending, a resilient housing market and unexpected strength in exports, China’s manufacturing and industrial firms helped the economy produce better-than-expected growth of 6.9 percent in 2017.
A sister survey showed activity in China’s service sector rose in March. The official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 54.6 from 54.4 in February.
A sub-reading for construction activity stood at 60.7 in March, up from 57.5 in February.
The services sector accounts for over half of China’s economy, with rising wages giving Chinese consumers more spending clout.
Chinese policy-makers are counting on growth in services and consumption to rebalance their economic growth model from its heavy reliance on investment and exports.
China is aiming for around 6.5 percent economic growth this year, the same as in 2017, while pressing ahead with its campaign to cut risks in the financial system, Premier Li Keqiang said in the annual parliament meeting earlier this month.
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