December saw further signs of growth emanating from the UK manufacturing sector.
Output rose for the third successive month and new orders increased for the first time since September 2024. There were also signs of the trends in new export orders and employment moving closer to stabilising after sustained downturns.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50.6 in December, from 50.2 in November, its highest level for 15 months but below the earlier flash estimate of 51.2. The PMI has posted above its neutral 50.0 mark (separating growth from decline) in each of the past two months.
Three of the PMI sub-components registered readings consistent with improved operating conditions in December, as output and new orders both rose, and suppliers' delivery times lengthened.
Although stocks of purchases and employment both declined, this was to lesser extents than in November.
The latest increase in manufacturing production mainly reflected a building-up of stocks of finished products and efforts to clear backlogs of work. UK manufacturers also benefited from several reduced headwinds towards the end of the year, as the negative impacts of uncertainty surrounding the Autumn Budget, tariffs and the JLR cyber-attack all moderated.
Output rose across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods sectors, the first time concurrent growth has been registered since August 2024. Data broken down by company size definitions were less suggestive of broad-based expansion, however. Growth was heavily skewed towards large manufacturers, as both small- and medium-sized companies registered downturns (an identical pattern was also seen for new orders).
A slight gain in new work intakes also contributed to the expansion of production volumes. Incoming new business rose for the first time in 15 months. Inflows improved at consumer goods manufacturers, stabilised in the intermediate goods category, but fell at investment goods producers.
Rob Dobson, Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence “Further signs of growth emanated from the UK manufacturing sector before the turn of the year. Output rose for the third successive month and new order intakes improved, albeit slightly, for the first time since September 2024. The domestic market remained a positive spur to growth while new export business, despite having now fallen for almost four consecutive years, took a sizeable stride towards stabilising.
"UK manufacturers benefited from several reduced headwinds towards the end of the year, as the negative impacts of the uncertainty surrounding the Autumn Budget, tariffs and the JLR cyber-attack all moderated.
"The start of 2026 will show if growth can be sustained after these temporary boosts subside. The base of the expansion needs to shift more towards rising demand and away from inventory building and backlog clearance. December’s interest rate cut will hopefully play some part in assisting this transition, encouraging manufacturers and their customers to increase spending and investment. Manufacturers remain uncertain on this score, with business optimism falling for the first time in three months in December.”
