The record falls in activity in both surveys underlined the rapid deceleration in the Chinese economy in recent months, which has raised fears of heavy job losses and prompted shifts in fiscal and monetary policy.
The purchasing managers index compiled by the government-linked China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing fell from 44.6 in October to 38.8 last month. The figure for new export orders plunged from 41.4 to 29.
A separate index by CLSA, the Hong Kong-based brokerage, also dropped sharply to a record low from 45.2 last month to 40.9 in November, the fourth month in a row that the figure has declined. Export order receipts fell sharply, as did employment levels at manufacturing companies.