Nigeria Private Sector Activity Gains Momentum

2026-09-01 10:19 By Luisa Carvalho 1 min. read

The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI rose to 54.3 in August 2026 from 52.5 in July, signalling a solid improvement in Nigeria’s private-sector conditions.

The latest data pointed to the seventh consecutive month of growth and the most pronounced since March 2025.

New orders strengthened sharply, growing at their fastest pace since the start of 2024, on improving customer demand and new product launches.

Companies responded by accelerating business activity, with the rate of output growth significantly stronger than in July.

Improved material availability was also cited as a factor supporting growth.

Employment rose for a 15th consecutive month, but job creation remained modest.

Backlogs fell for the first time in seven months, while purchasing activity accelerated.

Purchase cost inflation rose slightly in August, driven by higher fuel and transport costs, with output price inflation also accelerating.

Firms remained confident about future growth, despite a slight dip in sentiment.



News Stream
Nigeria Private Sector Activity Gains Momentum
The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI rose to 54.3 in August 2026 from 52.5 in July, signalling a solid improvement in Nigeria’s private-sector conditions. The latest data pointed to the seventh consecutive month of growth and the most pronounced since March 2025. New orders strengthened sharply, growing at their fastest pace since the start of 2024, on improving customer demand and new product launches. Companies responded by accelerating business activity, with the rate of output growth significantly stronger than in July. Improved material availability was also cited as a factor supporting growth. Employment rose for a 15th consecutive month, but job creation remained modest. Backlogs fell for the first time in seven months, while purchasing activity accelerated. Purchase cost inflation rose slightly in August, driven by higher fuel and transport costs, with output price inflation also accelerating. Firms remained confident about future growth, despite a slight dip in sentiment.
2026-09-01
Nigeria Private Sector Growth Softens in July
The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI eased to 52.5 in July 2026 from 53.4 in in the prior month, although signalling the sixth consecutive month of expansion in the country's private sector. New orders continued to rise, supported by product launches, competitive pricing, and stronger customer demand. Business activity increased further, led by gains in agriculture and manufacturing, while growth in services and retail moderated. Employment and purchasing activity expanded as firms responded to higher workloads, although backlogs rose slightly due to logistical challenges despite improved supplier performance. Inflationary pressures softened, with both input costs and output prices rising at slower rates, while staff costs increased modestly. Agriculture recorded the strongest increase in selling prices, whereas services posted the weakest inflation. Firms remained optimistic about output over the coming year, although confidence eased from June's one-year high.
2026-08-03
Nigeria Private Sector Growth Eases in May
The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI eased to 53.4 in June 2026 from 54.1 in May, but remained well above the 50-point threshold. The pace of growth in output and new orders softened from the previous month, while manufacturing was the only broad sector to record a decline in business activity. Despite the moderation, strong customer demand and new product launches continued to support marked growth in sales and business activity. Improving demand encouraged firms to increase employment, purchasing activity, and inventories. Employment rose for a thirteenth consecutive month, with hiring at its fastest pace since February. On the price front, input costs and selling prices remained elevated due to higher fuel, raw material, and transportation costs. Looking ahead, firms remained optimistic about the year ahead, with business confidence climbing to its highest level since June 2025, supported by expansion plans, advertising efforts, and stockpiling.
2026-07-01