The manufacturing sector in Taiwan continued to expand in August, albeit at a slower rate, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Monday with a manufacturing PMI score of 51.5.
Thats down from 52.9 in July, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Underlying the weaker improvement in operating conditions was a noticeable slowdown in output growth. Production continued to increase, but only marginally and to the weakest degree in the current five-month run of expansion. This in part reflected a weaker growth profile for new orders, although firms did report that demand remained positive and had helped to support a solid increase in sales overall.
New orders increased from both domestic and international sources, with demand up in key Asian, European and North American markets. Overall, new export sales rose to the highest degree for two-and-a-half years.