STOCK CONTROL:Companies have lowered inventories in order to cope with slowed business, which has eased the marginal rate of depletion to its slowest pace this year

Taipei Times
Date: May 03, 2016
By: Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter

The Nikkei Taiwan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 49.7 last month, from 51.1 in March, signifying a slight deterioration in the sector’s operating conditions, as weak client demand weighed on new orders and output.

The privately conducted PMI print suggested recovery remains elusive amid the slow season for technology products.

“After a bumpy first quarter, Taiwan’s manufacturing industry suffered another setback as seen in the PMI data,” said Annabel Fiddes, economist at Markit, which complied the survey.

Taiwanese manufacturers reported renewed declines in output and new orders last month due to tepid demand from both customers in Taiwan and overseas, the monthly report said.     [FULL  STORY]