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Manufacturing slump worsens as post-Brexit checks deter overseas buyers

01 Jun 2023 2 minute read
Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

The downturn in UK manufacturing has deepened, with activity falling to a four-month low in May as post-Brexit trade checks weakened overseas demand.

The closely-watched S&P Global/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI survey showed a reading of 47.1 in May, down from 47.8 in April.

Any score above 50 indicates the sector is growing, whereas a reading below that figure means it is shrinking.

The hard-hit manufacturing sector has been in negative territory for 10 months in a row, as a prolonged dip in demand has caused new orders to plunge.

It comes despite supply chain issues beginning to ease for firms in Britain.

“Manufacturers are finding that any potential boost to production from improving supply chains is being completely negated by weak demand, client de-stocking, and a general shift in spending in the UK away from goods to services”, said Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Furthermore, demand from overseas exporters fell for the 16th consecutive month in May, and at the fastest rate since January.

Tired

Dr John Glen, chief economist for CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply), suggested it shows that customers in the EU have become “tired of additional administrative Brexit checks”.

Some clients are switching to local sourcing to avoid the post-Brexit trade complications, the survey found.

Industry group Make UK said manufacturing firms want a “unified vision” from the Government for the sector over the next decade as export demand continues to fall.

As well as weaker new orders and clients de-stocking, production levels were also affected by the extra May bank holiday.

Nevertheless, there were bright spots in the survey, with signs of costs beginning to fall for manufacturers, who have faced a long period of price increases.

Companies reported feeling confident about new product launches, hopes for a better cost environment, and recovered market sentiment.

Mr Dobson said: “Although near-term conditions remain challenging overall, manufacturers are still finding reasons for optimism, including brighter news on the price and supply fronts.

“Average input costs fell for the first time in three-and-a-half years, allowing some firms to maintain efforts to repair and protect margins damaged by a long and often severe period of cost inflation.”


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David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
1 year ago

Welcome to brexit sir.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

UK PLC need to sack the CEO and the entire board of directors as the shareholders should demand in a market driven economy…

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago

Manufacturing is soo 2015.

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

But on a positive note, tourists are off to Spain to pay the tourist tax to local gov in Benidorm, and they can now que to get in while holding aloft a ” blue passport”. Hurrah for Brexit !!!!

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Gareth

You have to hold your passport aloft because all that passport recognition technology they bought off some globalist spiv corporation doesn’t work regularly.

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
1 year ago

Wales really needs to join the EEA, EFTA, and the European Union.

Being outside the largest trading in our continent and one the largest trading bloc in the world is never a good idea.

If England still wants to be outside the European single market they should do it alone, and not bring Wales, Scotland or Ireland down with them.

Rob flood
Rob flood
1 year ago

But didn’t wake vote to leave ?

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