LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Britain's manufacturing industry embraced a robust start in 2026, with the seasonally adjusted manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rising to a 17-month high in January, according to data released by S&P Global on Monday.
The reading stood at 51.8 last month, up from 50.6 in December 2025 and above the earlier flash estimate of 51.6, S&P Global said, noting that the PMI has signaled growth for three consecutive months.
January saw manufacturing production rise for the fourth consecutive month and at the joint-quickest pace since September 2024. But it also indicated that production expansion was driven by large-sized manufacturers, as small and medium-sized enterprises saw production decline for the third month in a row.
The solid start of the manufacturing industry shows encouraging resilience in the face of rising geopolitical tensions, said Rob Dobson, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
"Rates of output and order book growth accelerated, while new export business rose for the first time in four years, with Europe, China and the United States the main recipients," he said, noting there was also a positive bounce back in business confidence.
Despite the strong performance of the sector, he also stressed that cost pressures are creeping higher, as the passthrough of the increased minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions continue to work through the supply chain alongside the rising costs for commodities such as metals.
