1st May 2025 03:10
(Alliance News) - Ireland's manufacturing sector expansion accelerated in April, S&P Global reported on Thursday.
The AIB Ireland manufacturing purchasing managers' index improved to 53.0 in April, up from 51.6 in March, reaching its highest level since June 2022.
A reading above the 50.0 neutral mark indicates an overall increase in business activity from the previous month, while a reading below signals a contraction.
David McNamara, AIB chief economist, said: "The rise in April was broad-based, with robust growth in output and new orders, and signs of stock building amid tariff uncertainty...Nonetheless, some respondents noted that US tariffs had led to delayed decision-making on major investments, dragging down export orders in April.
"Despite ongoing geopolitical and tariff uncertainty, Irish manufacturers maintained a generally upbeat assessment of the outlook for activity levels over the coming year. 35% of the respondents predict a rise in output levels during the year ahead, while 9% expect a decline."
S&P Global compiles the PMI each month using survey responses from a panel of around 250 manufacturers.
By Elijah Dale, Alliance News reporter
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