Supply Chain Research

China’s manufacturing activity outlook improved slightly in September’s CFLP survey with the PMI rising to 49.8% from 49.5%, where 50% or below indicates a contraction. A jump in export order expectations to 48.7% from 47.2% was the best result since April but still indicates an outlook of falling orders. Import order expectations only improved marginally to 47.1% from 46.7% ahead of the traditionally quiet Golden Week holiday. That bodes ill for China’s major supplier nations, including the U.S., Japan and South Korea which all saw lower exports year over year in August.