KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN’s manufacturing sector showed softer momentum in March amid weaker demand and rising cost pressures, marking its weakest performance in six months, S&P Global said.
The S&P Global ASEAN Manufacturing PMI eased to 51.8, the lowest since September 2025, though still indicating a ninth straight month of expansion.
Output and new orders continued to grow but at a slower pace, with new export orders declining and weighing on overall sales. Purchasing and hiring rose only marginally.
Price pressures intensified, with input costs and output charges climbing above long-run averages. Firms also reduced post-production inventories for the first time since November.
S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said the West Asia conflict had begun to affect demand, production and business confidence across the region, adding that the outlook remains uncertain. – BERNAMA
