Russian manufacturing sector returns to growth in October, PMI shows
Nov 1 (Reuters) -Activity in Russia's manufacturing sector returned to expansion in October, recovering from its first slide into contraction in more than two years, a business survey showed on Friday, boosted by a sharp uptick in new export orders.
The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Russian manufacturing rose to 50.6 from 49.5 in September, moving back above the 50.0 level that separates expansion and contraction.
Despite the uptick, output and new orders continued to contract, albeit at a slower pace. Manufacturers cited muted customer demand as a reason for the decline, though the contraction in new sales was only fractional, S&P Global said.
Russia's significant spending on producing military equipment and weapons since invading Ukraine in February 2022 has buoyed a manufacturing sector that otherwise may have suffered as some countries shunned Moscow.
Gradually, Russian manufacturers have found new export markets, and the pace of new export order growth quickened to its fastest since January 2008, the survey showed.
"Demand conditions reportedly strengthened in neighbouring countries, which drove interest in Russian goods," S&P Global said.
Input costs and output charges rose sharply, driven by higher supplier and transportation prices, as well as unfavourable exchange rates, the survey showed.
"As has been the case in each month since December 2019, supplier performance at Russian manufacturers deteriorated in October," S&P Global said. "Delays were linked to logistics issues, with shipping and rail transportation mentioned in particular."
October saw a renewed rise in employment, with firms pinning hopes on stronger demand in the future, new product development and investment in capacity and automation, S&P Global said.
Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Hugh Lawson
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
