Factory output growth slows as China fights smog
China’s government has moved to wind down production at some steel factories and smelters in a drive to clean up the country’s smog-ridden cities
Beijing — China’s industrial output slowed in October, official data showed on Tuesday, as authorities fight smog by clamping down on pollution produced by heavy industries. Output at factories and workshops expanded 6.2% on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, slowing from 6.6% in September and below a forecast of 6.3% in a Bloomberg News survey. The government has moved to wind down production at some steel factories and smelters in a drive to clean up the country’s smog-ridden cities. Factories also closed during October’s Communist Party congress, during which President Xi Jinping called for more efforts to protect the environment. The government is also pushing to make domestic demand a growth driver of the world’s second-largest economy and make China less reliant on manufacturing and exports. "Generally speaking, the national economy maintained stable performance with improved quality and sound momentum," NBS spokesperson Liu Aihua told reporters. "However, we ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.