Huo Lihui, chief statistician at the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics, interpreted the China Purchasing Managers' Index for September 2026. In September, the manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1%, returning to the expansion range. Of the 21 industries surveyed, the PMI for 12 industries was above the critical point, an increase of 4 over the previous month, and the boom in the manufacturing industry expanded. Both sides of production and demand continued to expand. The manufacturing production index was 51.7%, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous month, and the new orders index was 50.5%, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous month. Both indices were above critical points, and production and market demand of manufacturing enterprises continued to improve. From an industry perspective, the production index and new order index for agricultural and sideline food processing, pharmaceuticals and other industries were above 55.0%, and production demand from related enterprises were released relatively quickly; production indices and new order indices for industries such as chemical raw materials and chemicals, ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing all continued to fall below the critical point. In order to meet production needs, the company further accelerated the procurement of raw materials. The purchase volume index was 51.0%, up 0.5 percentage points from the previous month. The price index continues to rise. Affected by factors such as the recent rise in international commodity prices and increased demand in some industries, the purchase price index of major raw materials and the ex-factory price index have all rebounded for two consecutive months, and the overall price level of the manufacturing market has risen markedly. The purchase price index and ex-factory price index for major raw materials in the manufacturing industry were 60.8% and 54.0%, respectively, up 4.2 and 3.6 percentage points from the previous month. From an industry perspective, with the sharp rise in international crude oil prices, the price indices for petroleum, coal and other fuel processing, chemical raw materials, and chemical products both rose to a high level of more than 60.0%. The three key industries are expanding rapidly. The equipment manufacturing industry, high-tech manufacturing industry, and consumer goods industry PMI were 51.0%, 52.5%, and 50.7% respectively, all above the critical point, and enterprises in related industries are generally active in production and operation. The PMI for the high-energy sector was 48.0%, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, and the boom level improved. The economy of small and medium-sized enterprises has improved. The PMI for large manufacturing enterprises was 50.6%, the same as last month, and large enterprises continued to expand; the PMI for medium-sized enterprises and small enterprises was 49.7% and 48.9%, respectively, up 0.3 and 1.0 percentage points from the previous month, and prosperity has rebounded.

Huo Lihui, chief statistician at the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics, interpreted the China Purchasing Managers' Index for September 2026. In September, the manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1%, returning to the expansion range. Of the 21 industries surveyed, the PMI for 12 industries was above the critical point, an increase of 4 over the previous month, and the boom in the manufacturing industry expanded. Both sides of production and demand continued to expand. The manufacturing production index was 51.7%, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous month, and the new orders index was 50.5%, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous month. Both indices were above critical points, and production and market demand of manufacturing enterprises continued to improve. From an industry perspective, the production index and new order index for agricultural and sideline food processing, pharmaceuticals and other industries were above 55.0%, and production demand from related enterprises were released relatively quickly; production indices and new order indices for industries such as chemical raw materials and chemicals, ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing all continued to fall below the critical point. In order to meet production needs, the company further accelerated the procurement of raw materials. The purchase volume index was 51.0%, up 0.5 percentage points from the previous month. The price index continues to rise. Affected by factors such as the recent rise in international commodity prices and increased demand in some industries, the purchase price index of major raw materials and the ex-factory price index have all rebounded for two consecutive months, and the overall price level of the manufacturing market has risen markedly. The purchase price index and ex-factory price index for major raw materials in the manufacturing industry were 60.8% and 54.0%, respectively, up 4.2 and 3.6 percentage points from the previous month. From an industry perspective, with the sharp rise in international crude oil prices, the price indices for petroleum, coal and other fuel processing, chemical raw materials, and chemical products both rose to a high level of more than 60.0%. The three key industries are expanding rapidly. The equipment manufacturing industry, high-tech manufacturing industry, and consumer goods industry PMI were 51.0%, 52.5%, and 50.7% respectively, all above the critical point, and enterprises in related industries are generally active in production and operation. The PMI for the high-energy sector was 48.0%, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, and the boom level improved. The economy of small and medium-sized enterprises has improved. The PMI for large manufacturing enterprises was 50.6%, the same as last month, and large enterprises continued to expand; the PMI for medium-sized enterprises and small enterprises was 49.7% and 48.9%, respectively, up 0.3 and 1.0 percentage points from the previous month, and prosperity has rebounded.