China’s factory activity expanded last month while growing at a slower pace for the first time since July, a private survey showed, in further evidence of the resilience of the country’s export-oriented firms.

The RatingDog China manufacturing purchasing managers index slipped slightly to 52 from 52.1 in September, according to a statement on Monday. The reading, which was above the 50 threshold separating expansion from contraction, matched the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

The relatively upbeat performance stands in contrast with official figures over the weekend that showed factory activity slipped back into contraction territory last month, with a subindex of new export orders slumping sharply to the lowest since May. The private poll results — whose sample captures smaller and more export-oriented firms — have tended to be stronger than those from the government survey over the previous year as overseas demand boomed.

Shipments abroad have been sustaining growth in the world’s second-largest economy by offsetting the squeeze from subdued domestic demand, as the property sector and the jobs market stay soft. The lopsidedness has persisted even as the economy staged a rebound in the third quarter, reaching the lower end of Beijing’s annual target of 4.5%-5%.

Chinese authorities have stepped up measured policies in recent weeks to bolster growth, including mortgage discounts for targeted home buyers and more local bond quota to spur investment. Still, the package only meant to ensure China meets the government’s growth goal and doesn’t signal a significant easing cycle.