BEIJING, Sept 2 (Bernama-dpa-AFX) -- China's manufacturing sector showed signs of recovery in August, with the Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 50.4, reported dpa-AFX news.
This marks an improvement from July's score of 49.8, moving the index above the critical 50-point threshold that indicates expansion rather than contraction.
Manufacturing production expanded for a tenth successive month in August, led by firms in the consumer and intermediate goods sectors.
Although modest, the growth rate accelerated from July's low as incoming new orders returned to expansion.
Survey respondents revealed that better underlying demand conditions and promotional efforts underpinned the latest rise in new orders.
Export orders were subdued, however, falling marginally for the first time in the year-to-date amid reports of deteriorating external conditions.
--BERNAMA-dpa-AFX