New Zealand's manufacturing sector has posted its strongest month of growth in nearly five years, with new data showing activity surging to its highest level since July 2021.
The latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) jumped to 59.7 in June, up sharply from 51.3 in May and well above the survey's long-term average of 52.5. A reading above 50.0 shows the sector is expanding.
"This is a very strong result. Order books are filling up, production is climbing, and manufacturers are hiring again," said Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer.
Every part of the index was firmly in expansion. New Orders led the way at 64.1, pointing to a healthy pipeline of work ahead, while Production surged to 59.4 and Employment reached 55.8, an encouraging sign for manufacturing jobs.
BNZ Head of Research Stephen Toplis said in the report that analysts were ‘staggered by the extent the Index has jumped’.
The manufacturing sector directly employs more than 220,000 people, contributes around eight percent of GDP, and accounts for 60 percent of New Zealand's exports.
Brewer added that manufacturing has become one of the powerhouses of the economy, and right now it's running hot. This followed the sector being the single biggest driver of economic growth in the March quarter, so the momentum is real and has built.
"When order books fill up like this, manufacturers need to invest to keep pace, and that's what Investment Boost is for, letting them buy the machinery and equipment that lifts productivity.”
New Zealand manufacturers have outpaced every major economy right now, including the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia.
"Kiwi manufacturers are showing what they can do when they get a Government that backs them. This is all part of the Government's plan to fix the basics and build the future."
