China’s factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in a year in March, welcome news for the world’s No. 2 economy before expected US tariffs that could further strain trade ties.

China's factory activity hit a 12-month high in March, as the country ramped up measures to boost the economy in the face of an escalating tariff war with the United States. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) - an indicator of factory activity - rose from 50.

China's services activity increased to 50.8 in March 2025, surpassing expectations and marking the highest in three months, while factory activity surged to 50.5 from 50.2 in the previous month, signa