Manufacturing output hit hard by coronavirus pandemic
Friday 12th June 2020
Output of the UK's manufacturing industries has dropped by almost a quarter (-24.3%) in the latest month for which figures are available. Even before the coronavirus pandemic the sector was in technical recession, having seen output fall for 4 successive quarters. Output in April 2020 is now a substantial 28.5% lower than in the same month of 2019.
Source: Office for National Statistics
Within the manufacturing sector, every industry with the exception of pharmaceuticals has recorded a substantial drop in output in both April and over the last 12 months.
The contribution of each specific industry to the fall in total manufacturing output between April 2019 and April 2020 reflects both the size or weight of that industry and its change in output. This highlights the relatively large contribution to the fall in manufacturing output by the transport equipment sector, as production of motor vehciles in the UK has all but stopped in the last two months.
Source: Office for National Statistics
The outlook for UK manufacturing remains moribound despite the government's encouragement of firms to re-open as international supply chains and access to foreign markets remains disrupted.