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Taiwan's manufacturing sector weakens in September

Xinhua, October 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

The manufacturing sector in Taiwan declined slightly in September as the typhoon season reduced the number of working days, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) said Monday.

The composite index of the island's manufacturing sector dropped 0.2 points from a month earlier to reach 11.41 points in September, showing a yellow-blue signal on the index's color-code system for the third consecutive month, according to a TIER survey.

The decline was due to a string of typhoons that cut the number of working days, as well as a drop in export and wholesale prices, the institute said.

The survey also showed that imports of manufacturing equipment increased, as semiconductor producers were in heavy demand with expanded production expected.

The institute uses a five-color system to describe the island's economic activity, with yellow-blue indicating sluggish growth, and blue,the lowest color, signalling recession. Yellow-blue is given when the index is between 10.5 to 13.

The index, which evaluates indicators such as the business environment, costs and demand, surpassed 10.5 points for the first time in July, bringing an end to 15 months of recession. Endi