China Manufacturing Growth in July Slowest in 8 Months, Export Orders Shrink

Workers process pork at a food factory in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province, on July 19, 2018. AFP/Getty Images

BEIJING—China’s manufacturing sector grew at the slowest pace in eight months in July as export orders declined yet again in a sign of a darkening outlook for the economy amid an intensifying trade dispute with the United States.

The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ index (PMI), a private survey compiled by the Beijing media group Caixin, declined to 50.8 in July from June’s 51.0, matching economists’ forecast and a November 2017 level.