India’s manufacturing sector showed a modest recovery in April, with slight improvements in new orders and output, even as overall growth remained subdued.
The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing PMI rose to 54.7 in April from 53.9 in March. However, the pace of expansion remained among the slowest seen in nearly four years, indicating cautious momentum in the sector.
Despite the uptick, growth in both production and new business inflows continued to be relatively weak, reflecting lingering demand-side pressures.
The PMI — a composite indicator tracking new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, and inventory levels — highlighted that operating conditions improved, but at a slower pace compared to historical trends.
Meanwhile, ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran have pushed up global oil prices, raising concerns over inflationary pressures for an import-dependent economy like India.