India’s manufacturing PMI comes at 14-month high; soars to 54.3 in February

01 Mar 2019 Evaluate

Coming at a 14-month high, the Indian manufacturing sector strengthened further in the month of February, with a sharp and accelerated increase in sales boosting growth of output and employment. As per the survey report, the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) - a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance - rose to 54.3 in February from 53.9 in January. The manufacturing sector activity expanded for the 19th consecutive month as the PMI reading stood above the watershed 50 mark, which differentiates growth from contraction.

The survey report found that inflows of new work at Indian goods producers continued to expand during February, on the account of successful advertising efforts, supportive government policies and strengthening demand conditions. The increase was the sixteenth in as many months and the most pronounced since October 2016. Further, growth of total order books was supported by gains from international sources, as seen by a marked and accelerated upturn in new export work. The report also noted that manufacturing output rose at the quickest rate since December 2017, boosted by strong inflows of new business, technological progress, beneficial public policies and positive market conditions.

On the inflation front, input costs increased, with firms citing higher prices for iron, steel, chemicals, plastic, tobacco and tools. Despite quickening to a three-month high, the rate of inflation was much weaker than its long-run average. Similarly, the rise in factory gate charges was weak in the context of historical data. Meanwhile, job creation was sustained, taking the current spell of growth to 11 months. Moreover, the upturn was the joint-quickest in over one year.

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