The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector was at 51.0 percent in December last year, down 0.4 percentage points compared to November but remaining above 50 percent for the 15th consecutive month, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In the given month, the production index for China's manufacturing sector was down 0.6 percentage points month on month to 53.9 percent, while the new order index for the sector decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous month to 52.0 percent. In December, the new export index for the Chinese manufacturing sector decreased by 0.8 percentage points month on month to 49.8 percent, while the import index for the sector was down by 1.5 percentage points month on month to 49.0 percent.
The raw material inventory index for China's manufacturing sector was at 47.6 percent in December, down 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous month.
Also in December, the employment index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 48.7 percent, down 0.9 percentage points, while the supplier delivery time index for the sector in question was at 50.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage points, both month on month.