China's industrial growth, which began in the country a year ago, has slowed markedly after the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The purchasing managers' index (PMI) released by the Chinese state statistics office on Saturday, July 31, showed that the index dropped to 50.4 points in July.. In June it was 50.9 points.

PMI levels above 50 indicate growth in the industrial sector. The current figure is the lowest since February 2020, when the PRC began to consistently introduce periods of hard lockdowns to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The slowdown in industrial growth in the PRC was facilitated by higher prices for raw materials and logistics costs, delays in supplies in world trade, as well as natural disasters, in particular, flooding in central China.. At the same time, analysts expected that the decline in industrial growth in the country would be minimal and in July the purchasing managers' index would be about 50.8 points.

An important role was played by the indicator of industrial exports, calculated in the PMI as a special item.. In China, it declined for three months in a row and reached 47.7 points in July.. Reported by Deutsche Welle.