Demand from China to support domestic trade

Ferlito said China’s Caixin Manufacturing PMI or Purchasing Manager’s Index unexpectedly fell to 50 in March from February’s eight-month peak of 51.6, missing market forecasts of 51.7.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can expect to benefit, to a certain extent, from China’s economic growth this year following the cessation of its zero-Covid policy, as the latter registered a stronger-than-projected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.5% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter of 2023 (1Q23), say analysts.

However, they also cautioned that the growth of the country’s largest trading partner could be a double-edged sword.