Manufacturing sees early signs of improvement, survey finds

But new challenges are putting pressure on factories including chaos on the Red Sea, especially for imports sourced from Asia

The rate of job creation was slight as survey respondents said intense margin pressures have remained a constraint on growing their workforces.

Manufacturing output levels rose marginally last month, while sales exports increased for a second consecutive month, indicating early signs of recovery in the sector, a major survey confirmed.

However, the latest AIB Purchasing Managers’ Index of Irish manufacturing showed purchasing activity decreased at a sharp and accelerated pace in the month.