South-East Asia manufacturing up in March but Myanmar sees collapse

Anti-coup protesters flash three-fingered symbol of resistance as they gather to pray for those who died during a protest against the military in Yangon, Myanmar, Monday, April 5, 2021. Threats of lethal violence and arrests of protesters have failed to suppress daily demonstrations across Myanmar demanding the military step down and reinstate the democratically elected government. - AP

YANGON, April 5 (dpa): Manufacturing in violence-wracked Myanmar dipped to a record low in March even as neighbouring countries saw "return to growth," according to a survey of factory managers published on Monday.

While "both output and new orders increased" across the region, according to IHS Markit, "another severe decline" was recorded in Myanmar "as factories remained closed amid political turmoil."