The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) edged 0.1 points higher to 61.8 in May, indicating an eighth consecutive month of recovery following the severe disruptions of COVID-19 in Q2 of 2020 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion).
The May result represents the index's highest monthly result since March 2018 and the fourth highest since the Australian PMI® commenced in 1992.
Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said: "Australia's manufacturing sector maintained its rapid pace of expansion in May fuelled by strong demand from the construction sector, a pick-up in business investment and healthy demand from households. Each of the six diverse manufacturing groups expanded at a more rapid rate in the month led by the machinery & equipment; building products; and chemicals sectors. Manufacturing production and employment accelerated and, while the pace of expansion eased from April's record high, sales also continued to rise. Manufacturers experienced further pressure on input costs and with wages also rising more rapidly, they are seeking to recover some of these extra costs from customers. With capacity utilisation running at high levels and new orders continuing to grow, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to fill positions. While the new Victorian lockdown will dampen enthusiasm somewhat, these conditions are likely to be setting the stage for a lift in investment by manufacturers," Mr Willox said.
Australian PMI®: Key Findings for May 2021
| Seasonally adjusted | Index this month | Change from last month | Long-run average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian PMI® | 61.8 | 0.1 | 50.7 |
| Production | 64.5 | 0.9 | 51.5 |
| Employment | 61.3 | 3.3 | 49.1 |
| New Orders | 64.9 | 1.5 | 51.3 |
| Supplier Deliveries | 51.6 | -7.5 | 51.0 |
| Finished Stocks | 62.3 | -0.7 | 49.7 |
| Exports | 48.9 | -9.9 | 50.0 |
| Sales | 60.9 | -4.2 | 49.4 |
| Input prices | 82.1 | 8.0 | 67.6 |
| Selling prices | 58.3 | 5.4 | 48.4 |
| Average wages | 62.9 | 1.1 | 58.7 |
| Capacity utilisation (%) | 85.1 | 0.0 | 74.1 |
| Trend | Index this month | Change from last month | Long-run average |
| Machinery & Equipment | 64.7 | 0.2 | 50.1 |
| Metals products | 54.5 | 0.8 | 47.3 |
| Petroleum, coal, chemicals & rubber products | 65.7 | 2.1 | 51.6 |
| Building, wood, furniture & other | 66.4 | 3.8 | 49.9 |
| Textiles, clothing, footwear, paper & printing | 64.2 | 0.4 | 46.9 |
Results above 50 points indicate expansion. * All indexes for sectors in the Australian PMI® are reported in trend terms (Henderson 13-month filter).
Background: The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) is a national composite index calculated from a weighted mix of the diffusion indices for production, new orders, deliveries, inventories and employment. An Australian PMI® reading above 50 points indicates that manufacturing activity is expanding; below 50, that it is declining. The distance from 50 indicates the strength of expansion or decline. Australian PMI® results are based on responses from a national sample of manufacturers that includes all states and all sub-sectors. The Australian PMI® uses the ANZSIC industry classifications for manufacturing sub-sectors and sub-sector weights derived from ABS industry output data. Seasonally adjusted and trend data are calculated according to ABS methodology. The Australian PMI® commenced in 1992. More information about the history and methodology of the Australian PMI® is available online.
Full list of 2021 Australian PMI® release dates.
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