The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector was at 50.8 percent in May of the current year, up 0.4 percentage points compared to April and constituting the third consecutive month-on-month increase, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In the given month, the production index for China's manufacturing sector was up 0.3 percentage points month on month to 52.8 percent, while the overall new order index for the sector increased by 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous month to 52.3 percent. In May, the new export order index for the Chinese manufacturing sector increased by 0.2 percentage points month on month to 49.3 percent, while the new import order index for the sector was up 0.4 percentage points month on month to 49.0 percent.

The raw material inventory index for China's manufacturing sector was at 48.0 percent in May, down 0.1 percentage point compared to the previous month.

Also in May, the employment index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 48.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point month on month, while the supplier delivery time index for the sector in question was at 50.3 percent, up 0.2 percentage point, both month on month.