New Zealand Manufacturing PMI2002-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand declined to 26.1 in April 2020 from 38 in March 2020. It was the lowest level in manufacturing activity since the survey began, as all five subindices shrank further. Production plunged to 19.8 (vs 31.4 in March), while new orders plummeted to 17.8 (vs 36.6). Meanwhile, employment was somewhat resilient, falling to 41.2 from 44.9. Looking ahead, 89.7 percent of respondents outlined negative comments associated to the pandemic and the lockdown. BNZ's executive director for manufacturing Catherine Beard said that given part of March and almost all of April was in complete lockdown for the country, a significant fall in manufacturing activity was fully expected.

The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand surprisingly jumped to 53.2 in February 2020 from an upwardly revised 49.8 in the previous month, beating market expectations of 50.3. The latest reading pointed to the strongest expansion in factory activity since December 2018, as output (53.6 vs 50.3 in January), new orders (55.3 vs 50.7) and finished stocks (52.5 vs 50.7) increased further. Additionally, employment (50.6 vs 47.1) and deliveries (53.1 vs 47.7) went up into positive territory. "Looking at comments from respondents, there was a noticeable increase in Covid-19 being mentioned, either directly or through the impact on shipping from China. Even those who made positive comments tempered it with concerns about the months ahead,” said BNZ´s Executive Director, Catherine Beard.

The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand rose to 49.6 in January 2020 from a downwardly revised 49.2 in the previous month but missing market expectations of 51. The latest reading pointed to the second consecutive contraction in factory activities zone, still at a softer pace. Output advanced (49.9 vs 48.4 in December), but remaining in negative territory; and new orders increased (50.6 vs 50.4 in December). In contrast, employment dropped to its the weakest in six months (46.9 vs 49.6); deliveries fell into contraction territory (48.2 vs 50.1); and finished stocks growth slowed (50.5 vs 52.7). "The proportion of negative comments in January picked up from December. In terms of the comments made, there were still seasonal effects at play, most notably the Xmas/holiday break. However, there was also some discussion around uncertainty due to the coronavirus.", Catherine Beard, BusinessNZ's executive director for manufacturing said.

The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index in New Zealand declined to 49.3 in December 2019 from 51.4 in the previous month and below market expectations of 50.6. New orders (51 vs 54 in November), production (48.2 vs 49.4) and deliveries (50.7 vs 52.6) declined. On the other hand, employment increased, still remaining in contraction territory (49.9 vs 49.1) and finished stocks rose (52.8 vs 49.2). “The December result was disappointing. After a couple of months flirting with positivity, the PMI dipped back just below the breakeven line again,” said BNZ Senior Economist, Craig Ebert.