Mixed fortunes for the machinery sector

China's consumer-led machinery sector fared well in the first half of the year, but the country's overall machinery manufacturing industry expanded at its slowest pace since the financial crisis in 2008, according to the China Machinery Industry Federation.

Chen Bin, who heads the industry body, said consumer-led machine makers enjoyed strong profit growth during the first six months, and officials remain "bullish about the increase in the second half and over the next few years, as the sector is barely being affected" by a slowdown in investment.

"The food-packaging machinery sector, particularly, picked up rapidly because of a rise in demand for high-quality machines, in the wake of recent food safety scandals," said Chen.