UK manufacturing has had another difficult month in the face of Brexit uncertainty, posting a four-month low for February with a figure of 52.0, the lowest figure since the July 2016 reading, which was post-referendum.
The figure is barely remaining in growth territory as manufacturers do all they can to prepare for and mitigate the risks of Brexit.
The Eurozone has also been hit by the uncertainty, as the Eurozone Manufacturing PMI dropped below the 50 growth figure, to 49.3.
Business optimism also suffered from Brexit uncertainty, as did employment in the sector, which had been buoyant for some time, while job losses in the sector reached a six-year high.
Ricky Nelson, Head of Corporate Dealing at currency specialist Halo Financial, said: “Companies in the manufacturing sector are proactively preparing for what may or may not happen post-Brexit, but the ongoing uncertainty has chipped away at new business and confidence in the sector.”
“Even exports, which have, until recently, been benefitting from a weaker Pound, are falling, and economic fears beyond Brexit are sending ripples across industry worldwide.”
“The US-China trade tensions have had a marked effect on global imports and exports and concerns over a global economic slowdown are sending markets into panic mode.”
Atul Kariya, Manufacturing Sector Lead and Partner at accountants and business advisors MHA MacIntyre Hudson, said: “It is clear that UK manufacturers have taken preparatory measures to heart and put into place plans to ease the impact of Brexit risks.”
“But continued global economic uncertainty is hitting the industry from all sides, dragging down optimism and putting on hold future plans. The sector is not alone and the current climate is creating a difficult backdrop for longer term decision making and investment decisions.”
Dorrien Peters, Head of Manufacturing at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Faced with the level of uncertainty that we have seen over the last month, these results are not surprising. March looks set to see this continue and although there are moves to delay Article 50 and delay a no-deal, an orderly Brexit is far from guaranteed and manufacturers must continue to prepare.”