Indonesia's manufacturing sector showed signs of moderation in March after reaching an 11-month high in February, according to the latest S&P Global report. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell slightly to 52.4 in March from 53.6 the previous month, though it remained above the 50-point threshold, indicating continued expansion. Output and new orders grew at a slower pace, while foreign demand rebounded for the third time in four months. Despite the slight deceleration, production growth remained strong, driven by increased client demand and effective marketing. To meet this demand, manufacturers continued stockpiling raw materials, increasing pre-production inventories for the fifth consecutive month. Employment in the manufacturing sector also expanded, although job creation slowed to a three-month low. Despite significant layoffs in labor-intensive sectors like textiles and footwear, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang reported a net increase in manufacturing employment, with 1.08 million new workers hired in 2023, thanks to the opening of around 14,800 new companies. Overall, the sector's workforce grew from 17.43 million in 2020 to nearly 20 million by the end of last year. While rising input costs and exchange rate fluctuations continue to pressure margins, manufacturers have managed to pass on only marginal price increases to customers, maintaining a relatively stable inflation environment.Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/04/02/manufacturing-pmi-drops-amid-slowing-new-orders-output.html (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: The Jakarta Post, 2 April 2025