BEIJING — China’s manufacturing slowed further in July as Beijing cooled an overheated economy and demand for exports weakened amid Europe’s debt crisis and sluggish U.S. growth, two surveys showed Monday.

China has been a bright spot amid global economic gloom. The slowdown could have repercussions for other countries that are looking to its giant manufacturing industries to drive demand for iron ore, factory machinery and other goods.

The HSBC purchasing managers’ index fell to its lowest level in 16 months and showed manufacturing activity contracting. A survey by an industry group, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, showed activity expanding but only slightly.

Chinese industrial production has slowed following repeated interest rate increases and other curbs as the government tries to slow rapid economic growth and cool inflation that surged to a three-year high of 6.4 percent in June.

HSBC said its PMI fell to 49.3 from June’s 50.1 on a 100-point scale; numbers below 50 show activity contracting. It was the lowest level since March 2009.

New export orders, one component of the index, fell for a third straight month.

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“This has confirmed the slowing growth momentum of the manufacturing sector against the backdrop of sustained tightening and lackluster external demand,” HSBC economist Qu Hongbin said.

However, Qu said activity still was strong enough that Beijing can tighten monetary policy further in the current quarter to cool inflation.

The Chinese logistics group said its PMI fell to 50.7 from June’s 50.9, also on a 100-point scale.The slowdown could affect other countries looking to China to drive demand.

 


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