Manufacturing output boosted by fresh export orders

NEW orders and output in the manufacturing sector rose slightly last month while activity remained steady.

New business was boosted by a rise in export orders but, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), spare capacity remained evident as backlogs of work and employment continued to fall.

The PMI — which measures the health of the manufacturing industry — rose slightly to 51.2 in November, from 50.9 in the previous month.