China's factory output slowed in April but showed surprising resilience, a sign that government support measures may have cushioned the impact of a trade war with the U.S. that threatens to derail momentum in the world's second-largest economy.

Lower demand and price for cattle hides has been one of the immediate impacts from recent tariff changes between the US and China, global meat processing giant JBS told analysts during a first quarter financial briefing last week.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics data, China’s industrial output rose 6.1% compared to a year earlier.