Record stockpiling by SME manufacturers in last quarter

Stockpiling of raw materials and finished goods were at record highs among small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers in the three months to April.

That’s according to the latest quarterly CBI SME Trends Survey.

In a survey of 252 SME manufacturers, growth in output volumes slowed to its weakest in one-and-a-half years, with production expected to be flat over the coming quarter.

Domestic orders were flat over the quarter and export orders grew only slightly. Both are expected to fall over the next three months.

The survey showed that manufacturers raised stocks of raw materials and finished goods at the fastest rates in the survey’s history. Stocks of work in progress were also raised significantly.

Other results include:

• Business optimism fell for the third quarter in a row in April, albeit at a slower pace, while export sentiment continued to fall significantly, again for a third quarter in a row
• Political and economic conditions abroad was the most cited factor as likely to limit export orders, rising to another record high, having now picked up for four quarters in a row
• Headcount growth picked up slightly last quarter, while average costs growth sped up in the three months to April
• Orders or sales were far and away the main factor cited most likely to limit output next quarter, albeit with citations remaining below their long-run average
• Investment intentions for the year ahead remained relatively poor, although manufacturers expect to raise spending on product and process innovation slightly in the year ahead, for the first time in a year
• The proportion of firms working below capacity crept up to its highest in more than two years but remained below its long-run average.

Alpesh Paleja, CBI Principal Economist, said: “SME manufacturers ramped up stockpiling over the last quarter in the face of Westminster deadlock. Against the backdrop of fairly tepid growth, this would have been a big drag on the resources of smaller manufacturers.

“Continued uncertainty meant that some investment plans would also have been restrained. Manufacturers certainly won’t want to face another cliff-edge come autumn, so will want to see a Brexit deal finally agreed and over the line.”

Key findings – three months to April:

• Stocks of raw materials (+33%) and finished goods (+18%) both grew at their fastest pace on record (since October 1988)
• 42% of small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturers reported an increase in total new orders, and 31% said they decreased, giving a balance of +11%. New orders are expected to fall (-5%) over the coming quarter
• 33% of firms said domestic orders increased and 31% said they decreased, giving a balance of +2%. Domestic orders are expected to decline (-7%) over the next three months
• 29% of firms reported an increase in export orders and 23% said they fell, giving a balance of +6%. Firms anticipate export orders will fall (-10%) next quarter
• Political/economic conditions abroad as a factor likely to limit export orders (58%) rose to the highest on record (since October 1988)
• 35% of SME manufacturers said output increased and 26% said it decreased, giving a balance of +9%. Growth is expected to slow next quarter (-3%)
• 22% of firms said they were more optimistic regarding their business situation, while 33% said they were less optimistic, giving a rounded balance of -12%. Optimism about export prospects for the year ahead fell sharply again (-25%)
• Numbers employed grew slightly, with 29% of firms saying they had seen growth in headcount and 18% saying they had seen a reduction, giving a balance of +12%, although growth is expected to slow next quarter (+5%)
• SME manufacturers plan to reduce investment in training and retraining (-14%) in the year ahead, but expect to raise spending on product and process innovation slightly (+9%)
• Average unit cost growth sped up in the three months to April (+39%), with firms expecting similarly strong next quarter (+35%).