Asia’s Export Engines Are Gradually Healing From Pandemic Slumps

A vessel loaded with shipping containers approaches the Yangshan Deepwater Port in Shanghai.

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

Asia’s manufacturing engines just turned in another month of fitful progress, with September’s purchasing managers indexes looking just a bit brighter, with a few exceptions.

India’s factory gauge surged further into expansion, while still making up for a record-low reading in April and with more challenges ahead given a worsening Covid-19 outbreak. Japan’s PMI rose to the highest level since February but remained in contractionary territory.