Analysts have drawn parallels with China’s ongoing economic slowdown, which includes deteriorating balance sheets of real estate companies, and Japan’s so-called lost decades of stagnation.
South Korea joined the US-led Minerals Security Partnership earlier this month alongside the likes of Germany, France, Britain, Australia and Japan in a move designed to reduce its dependency on China for key resources, including rare earths.
China’s Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose in May, but was still the second-lowest reading since February 2020, data released on Monday showed.
China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 47.4 in April, down from 49.5 in March, while the official non-manufacturing PMI dropped to 41.9 from 48.4 last month, data released on Saturday showed.