Asian factory activity hit by rising costs, Delta variant

Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia saw factory activity shrink in July due to a resurgence in infections and stricter Covid-19 restrictions, according to private surveys. - VNA/VNS

TOKYO (Reuters): Asia's factories hit a rough patch in July as rising input costs and a new wave of coronavirus infections overshadowed solid global demand, highlighting the fragile nature of the region's recovery.

Manufacturing activity rose in export powerhouses Japan and South Korea, though firms suffered from supply chain disruptions and raw material shortages that pushed up costs.