China - March 01, 2025 Storyline: The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.2 in February, up from 49.1 in January, according to official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction. The resumption of work and production after the end of the Spring Festival holiday season in early February contributed to a rebound in market demand. The sub-index for new orders in the manufacturing sector stood at 51.1 percent in February, up 1.9 percentage points from the previous month. The demand for high-tech products and consumer goods was boosted by government consumption promotion campaigns such as consumer goods trade-in and large-scale equipment upgrading, as well as measures to promote the development of new technologies and industries such as artificial intelligence. In the month, the resumption of production and growth in investment demand in the manufacturing sector boosted demand for basic raw materials. The new orders index for basic raw materials rose 3.4 percentage points to nearly 51 percent in February, the highest since April 2023. Driven by the recovery in market demand, the production activities of enterprises achieved notable growth in February. The production index stood at 52.5 percent, up 2.7 percentage points from the previous month. In particular, the output of new economic drivers achieved significant growth in the month. The production index of the equipment manufacturing industry stayed above 54 percent, up nearly two percentage points from the previous month, while the high-tech manufacturing production index was 53 percent, up three percentage points from the previous month. "Driven by the recovery of production and demand, enterprises' purchasing intention has also increased, bringing the purchase quantity index back to the expansion range with a significant increase in the month," said Huo Lihui, head of the business climate survey division at the Service Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics. Rising market demand and firms' willingness to produce also boosted employment demand. The employment index increased by 0.5 percentage point month-on-month in February, reaching its highest level since May 2023. Shotlist: FILE: China - Exact Date and Location Unknown: 1. Various of crane loading steel rolls onto freight ship; 2. Various of consumers, products at home appliance store; 3. Various of devices operating, employees working; Beijing, China - March 1, 2025: 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Huo Lihui, head, business climate survey division at Service Survey Center, National Bureau of Statistics (ending with shot 5): "Driven by the recovery of production and demand, enterprises' purchasing intention has also increased, bringing the purchase quantity index back to the expansion range with a significant increase in the month." FILE: China - Exact Date and Location Unknown: 5. Various of production line, devices operating, employees working; Beijing, China - March 1, 2025: 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) He Hui, assistant president, China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP)(ending with shots 7-8): "In summary, the rebound in the manufacturing indexes in February was a structural rebound under the combined effect of seasonal and policy factors. We saw growth from both the supply and demand sides, as well as record highs of many sub-indexes, reflecting the high quality of China's economic recovery." FILE: China - Exact Date and Location Unknown: 7. Various of robotic arms in operation; 8. Various of car production line, employees working. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]