India’s factory activity grew at its fastest pace in seven months in September. The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI jumped to 55.1 from a five-year low of 52.8 in August, a private survey showed on Thursday.

New orders rose at the fastest pace since February. Demand was strongest for electronic, food, pharmaceutical and textile products, according to the survey compiled by S&P Global.

Export orders also picked up. Manufacturers reported stronger demand from customers in Brazil, Europe, the UAE and the US. Output expanded at its fastest rate since May.

Hiring resumed after August’s outright decline, the first fall in factory jobs in about two and a half years. Business confidence rose to a four-month high. Companies also built up finished-goods stocks at the second-fastest pace in nearly 12 years.

The final reading was below the 55.7 flash estimate, but it marked the highest level since February. September was also the 59th straight month of expansion.

The data lands six days before the RBI’s October policy meeting on October 5-7. The repo rate currently stands at 5.25 percent.