Chinese economic lull slows power output

• 10 years ago (2014-05-14)
• Junior Isles

Asia 892 North America 1021

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China has seen its power output growth slow to the lowest level in 11 months this April, as suppressed factory production growth contributed to a general economic slowdown in the world’s second largest economy.

Chinese electricity production grew to 425 billion kWh in April, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NSBC), but this 4.4 per cent growth was the slowest pace for a usual working month since May 2013.

Previous reports have shown Chinese economic growth cooling to 7.4 per cent in the first quarter, down from 7.7 per cent in the previous period, but Beijing has signalled an acceptance of the necessity of sacrificing some growth while an reforming economy overly reliant on investment and exports.

Factory production in April rose 8.7 from a year earlier, while China’s manufacturing gauge slowed for a fourth successive month in April.

Thermal power production increased 2 per cent on last year to 341.2 billion kWh while hydroelectric output showed resilience to the general slump, jumping 21 per cent to 62 billion kWh, the NBSC said.