Global manufacturing is showing signs of resurgent growth in the fourth quarter, but the expansion is being accompanied by rising prices.
With oil prices rising in late November as OPEC agreed to cut supply, global manufacturers face further increases in their costs. However, demand and supply for many commodities appear to be in balance, meaning limited scope for suppliers to hike prices further for many other commodities, for now at least.
Cost rise at fastest rate since 2011
While the JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI, compiled by Markit from surveys in over 30 countries, rose to its highest since August 2014, the survey’s gauge of input prices also signalled an increase (for an eighth straight month). The rate of input cost inflation is now running at the highest since September 2011.
The upturn in prices has in part been driven by commodity prices reviving in line with stronger demand, especially from emerging markets. Emerging market manufacturing is enjoying one of its best spells of growth seen for five years so far in the fourth quarter.
Emerging market growth and raw material prices
Source: IHS Markit.
Developed world manufacturing is also seeing growth pick up to the highest for over two years. Faster growth gobbles up more raw materials, meaning suppliers can often demand higher prices, albeit to a limit.
Few signs of supply bottlenecks
Importantly, at present, global supply chains have not been sufficiently stretched to mean shortages are a problem. The survey data in fact provide scant evidence to suggest that prices are being driven up by demand rising faster than supply. Global suppliers’ delivery times, for example, lengthened only slightly in November. The implication is that, with demand and supply largely in balance for many goods, there’s a limit to how much suppliers can raise prices.
Price and supply pressures
Sources: IHS Markit, JPMorgan
Exchange rate impact
Exchange rates have meanwhile clearly played a major role in driving national price divergences. UK manufacturers saw the steepest increase in costs of all countries by a wide margin for the second month running in November, as the weaker sterling exchange rate (which hit a record low in October on a trade weighted basis) drove up the price of imported raw materials.
The weaker euro is likewise starting to push up input costs in the single currency area. Manufacturing input price inflation in the Eurozone is currently running at its highest since March 2012.
Conversely, Japan’s strong yen meant it again saw the smallest increase in costs of all countries surveyed by the PMIs. Similarly, the strengthening dollar has meant US producers saw only a modest increase in input costs in November.
Input cost inflation rankings
Sources: IHS Markit, JPMorgan, Nikkei, Caixin.
Disclaimer: The intellectual property rights to these data provided herein are owned by or licensed to Markit Economics Limited. Any unauthorised use, including but not limited to copying, distributing, transmitting or otherwise of any data appearing is not permitted without Markit’s prior consent. Markit shall not have any liability, duty or obligation for or relating to the content or information (“data”) contained herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in the data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
In no event shall Markit be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, arising out of the use of the data. Purchasing Managers' Index™ and PMI™ are either registered trademarks of Markit Economics Limited or licensed to Markit Economics Limited. Markit is a registered trade mark of Markit Group Limited.