Vietnam's factory activity expands for first time in five months

The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) posted 51.1 in June, up from 42.7 in May. —VNA/VNS

HANOI (Xinhua): Vietnam Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which measures the economic health of the country's manufacturing sector, soared to 51.1 in June from 42.7 in May, the first growth since January, a report by the London-based global information provider IHS Markit said on Wednesday (July 1).

The return to growth in June took place as success in suppressing the Covid-19 and greater business confidence helped lead to renewed expansions in output and new orders, according to the report. Purchasing activity also increased but employment continued to fall, said the report.