China’s factory activity shrinks as slowdown worries rise

Chinese factory activity contracted for a second straight month in January, the official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed. The index ticked up to 49.5, but remained below the 50-point level that separates growth from contraction. China reported its weakest economic expansion in 28 years in 2018, and growth is expected to slow further. Already, a number of multinationals have said sluggish growth in China has affected their bottom line.

The manufacturing data was up slightly from the 49.4 level recorded in December. Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics, said while the PMI didn’t weaken any further in January, “it still suggests that the economy lost momentum at the start of the year”. Other data, such as consumer sentiment and retail sales figures, also point to weakening demand in the world’s second largest economy. Several international companies have warned on China’s slowdown, including Apple. The tech giant blamed a 5 per cent fall in revenue partly on China. Shares of industrial equipment giant Caterpillar took a beating earlier this week, after the company reported its sales slipped 4%, largely due to slow sales in China.

Chipmaker Nvidia also reported softer sales due to a sluggish Chinese market. 3M, which makes products from adhesive tapes to air filters, also said weak customer demand in China affected its bottom line. China has been attempting to reform its economy to rely more on domestic consumption instead of exports and investment to fuel growth. The US-China trade war is also creating economic uncertainty. The latest figures come as official from both sides meet in Washington to try ease trade tensions. If the two sides cannot reach an agreement by 1 March, the US has said it will increase the tariff rate from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on Chinese goods worth an estimated $200bn.

BBC