China’s factory activity in shock slowdown as energy crisis hits home

Output, orders and employment all fell in September, according to official data, as Beijing turns to Russia to ease its electricity shortages

• How bad is China's energy crisis?

China's factory activity has shrunk unexpectedly amid curbs on electricity use and rising prices for commodities and parts, raising more concerns about the state of the world's second biggest economy.

A closely watched survey released on Thursday showed that China's factory activity contracted in September for the first time since the pandemic took a grip in February 2020.