- Prior 51.8
Key findings:
- New export orders rise at quickest pace in four and-a-half years
- Business sentiment stays close to January's recent high
Comment:
Rob Dobson, Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence
“UK manufacturing has made an encouraging start to 2026. Output rose at the quickest pace in 17 months during February, building on a solid upturn in January, as companies enjoy rising intakes of new work from both the home and overseas markets. Growth of new export business hit a four-and-a-half year high, as improving client confidence in markets such as North America, mainland China, the EU and Middle East led to new contract wins.
"The outlook also remains positive. Business optimism among manufacturers stayed close to January's recent high, with close to three-fifths of all companies expecting to expand production during the coming year. New product launches, rising client confidence and planned investments are all forecast to help generate growth over the next year, offsetting some of the caution companies are still exhibiting due to recent government policy changes and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, especially in relation to US tariffs.
"Although the promising start to the year and positive expectations for the future are not yet fully reflected in the labour market, there are signs of stabilisation on the jobs front too. The rate of decline in staffing levels was only mild in February and eased to the weakest during the current 16-month jobs downturn.
