Bangladesh’s overall Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) moved into slight contraction in August, with the index at 49.9, down 7.9 points from 57.8 in July, the latest PMI report showed. For textile, apparel and sourcing supply chains, the downturn was concentrated in manufacturing and services, while agriculture stayed positive and construction returned to expansion.
The manufacturing PMI recorded the steepest sectoral fall, declining 18 points to 47.4 in August. New orders, new export orders, output, stocks of input purchases, imports and employment all shifted back into contraction, while input prices rose at a faster pace. Order backlogs remained in contraction, although the decline eased, and supplier delivery times were unchanged.
The August PMI was released jointly by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka, and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB). The PMI framework treats readings above 50 as expansion and readings below 50 as contraction.
