China’s factory activity expanded for the sixth consecutive month in October, as business confidence grew to its strongest level in years, a private survey showed on Monday.

The Kaisin / Market Purchasing Managers ‘Index for Chinese production fell to 53.6 in October, higher than the analysts’ forecast of 53.0 in a Reuters poll. The latest reading was the highest since January 2011, the survey results showed.

BMI readings above 50 indicate amplification, while below that signal contraction. BMI measurements are continuous and indicate a monthly expansion or contraction per month.

China’s vast manufacturing sector is recovering as the country’s corona virus outbreak is largely under control. Wang Jie, senior economist at Keizin Insight Group, said the October Geisen / Market BMI showed that the country’s manufacturing recovery has continued to accelerate.

“Overall, recovery is about curbing domestic epidemics in the current macro-economy,” he said in a statement with the data release.

“Production supply and demand improved simultaneously. Companies were more willing to increase inventory. Prices were stable. Business operations improved and entrepreneurs were optimistic,” he said.

China’s official manufacturing BMI released over the weekend of the private survey was 51.4 as of October – the eighth consecutive month of expansion. Analysts polled by Reuters expect a reading of 51.3.

The official BMI survey generally votes for the majority of large businesses and state-owned enterprises. In comparison, the private casein / market survey has a large mix of small and medium enterprises.