Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing PMI climbed to 66.7 in March 2026 from 56.8 in the previous month, hitting its highest level since June 2020. This signals strong expansion driven by seasonal demand, although firms continued to face tight production conditions due to shortages of raw materials and fuel, rising costs, and logistical constraints. New orders (69.9 vs 55 in February) and production (68.8 vs 54.5) expanded, particularly in food & beverages and textiles & wearing apparel. The stock of purchases also grew, albeit at a softer pace (59.9 vs 60), with some firms building precautionary inventories amid risks linked to the Middle East conflict. Employment growth slowed (55.9 vs 58.6), while suppliers’ delivery times lengthened further (75.5 vs 59.6) due to strong demand and shipping disruptions. Looking ahead, manufacturers remained optimistic for the next quarter, although expectations were tempered by uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict. source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Manufacturing PMI in Sri Lanka increased to 66.70 points in March from 56.80 points in February of 2026. Manufacturing PMI in Sri Lanka averaged 53.70 points from 2015 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.30 points in May of 2015 and a record low of 24.20 points in April of 2020. This page provides - Sri Lanka Manufacturing Pmi- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Manufacturing PMI in Sri Lanka increased to 66.70 points in March from 56.80 points in February of 2026. Manufacturing PMI in Sri Lanka is expected to be 59.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Sri Lanka Manufacturing PMI is projected to trend around 57.00 points in 2027 and 55.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Business Confidence 125.00 130.00 points Dec 2025
Capacity Utilization 62.00 60.00 percent Dec 2024
Car Registrations 13096.00 12710.00 Units Jan 2026
Changes in Inventories 2441500.00 1994954.20 LKR Million Dec 2024
Industrial Production -2.70 -0.70 percent Feb 2026


Sri Lanka Manufacturing PMI
The Sri Lanka Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey of 150 industrial companies. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is based on five individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders, Output, Employment, Suppliers’ Delivery Times and Stock of Items Purchased, with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change.

News Stream
Sri Lanka Manufacturing PMI Climbs to 2020 Highs
Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing PMI climbed to 66.7 in March 2026 from 56.8 in the previous month, hitting its highest level since June 2020. This signals strong expansion driven by seasonal demand, although firms continued to face tight production conditions due to shortages of raw materials and fuel, rising costs, and logistical constraints. New orders (69.9 vs 55 in February) and production (68.8 vs 54.5) expanded, particularly in food & beverages and textiles & wearing apparel. The stock of purchases also grew, albeit at a softer pace (59.9 vs 60), with some firms building precautionary inventories amid risks linked to the Middle East conflict. Employment growth slowed (55.9 vs 58.6), while suppliers’ delivery times lengthened further (75.5 vs 59.6) due to strong demand and shipping disruptions. Looking ahead, manufacturers remained optimistic for the next quarter, although expectations were tempered by uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict.
2026-04-17
Sri Lanka Manufacturing PMI Rise in February 2026
Sri Lanka's Manufacturing PMI rose to 56.8 in February 2026 from 56.1 in January, indicating continued expansion in manufacturing activities. The Employment sub-index (58.6 vs 51.5) and Stock of Purchases sub-index (60.0 vs 56.0) expanded further during the month, reflecting firms' preparations ahead of the festive season. Some firms also reported pre-emptive stocking in anticipation of potential supply pressures stemming from Middle East unrest. The New Orders sub-index (55.0 vs 58.5) and Production sub-index (54.5 vs 57.5) expanded in February, though at a slower pace than the prior month. Meanwhile, Suppliers' Delivery Times lengthened further, signaling increased pressure on supply chains. Expectations for manufacturing activities over the next three months remain positive, driven by anticipated festive demand. However, many respondents expressed caution about potential adverse effects if the Middle East conflict persists.
2026-03-16
Sri Lanka Factory Activity Growth Slows
Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing PMI eased to 56.1 in January 2026 from 60.9 in December 2025, indicating that manufacturing activity continued to expand, albeit at a slower pace following the seasonal peak recorded in the previous month. All sub-indices remained above the neutral 50 threshold, signaling sustained growth in the sector. Expansion moderated for new orders (58.5 vs 63.8 in December) and production (57.5 vs 61.2). Employment growth also softened (51.5 versus 58.5), reflecting more moderate hiring conditions. Meanwhile, the stock of purchases accelerated (56.0 vs 53.7), largely due to inventory buildup ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays. Suppliers’ delivery time remained lengthened but eased somewhat (55.0 vs 62.5), consistent with slower growth in demand. Looking ahead, expectations for manufacturing activity over the next three months remain positive, supported by anticipated improvements in business conditions.
2026-02-16