Manufacturing continued to provide the strongest support to the production sector during the latest three-month period. Although total production output increased by just +0.1% in the three months to May 2026, this was entirely driven by manufacturing, where output rose by +1.6% compared with the previous three months.
Growth was relatively broad-based, with 8 of the 13 manufacturing subsectors recording increases, highlighting a generally positive picture across much of UK manufacturing despite continued weakness elsewhere in the production sector.
Within manufacturing, the strongest gains were recorded in pharmaceuticals (+5.4%), basic metals and metal products (+2.7%), and food manufacturing (+1.7%). These increases more than offset declines in machinery and equipment (-1.5%), electrical equipment (-2.2%), and other manufacturing (-1.0%).
At the subsector level, output in the capital goods industries – where the majority of purchasers of manufacturing technology equipment are found – was +0.3% higher than in the previous three-month period and +2.5% above the same period a year earlier, suggesting demand for investment goods continues to outperform manufacturing as a whole.
Among the manufacturing technology sector’s key customer industries, automotive output increased by +1.4% compared with the previous three-month period but remained -5.7% lower than a year earlier, reflecting softer demand, including weaker export markets, alongside ongoing production challenges. Metal products continued to perform strongly, with output rising +3.6% over the latest three months and standing +9.2% above the same period last year. While many businesses in this sector supply the automotive industry, the broader customer base appears to have helped support growth despite weaker vehicle production.
Aerospace output eased -0.5% over the latest three-month period but remained +2.0% higher than a year earlier. By contrast, machinery and equipment (mechanical engineering) continued to lag the other key customer industries, with output falling -1.5% over the latest three months and -1.6% compared with the same period in 2025.
You can download the ONS Statistical Bulletin from their website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar (16 July) or request it from MTA.