UK Manufacturing Output Rebounds Less Than Expected

Manufacturing production in the UK grew by 2.1% month-on-month in November 2025, surpassing market estimates of a 0.5% increase and accelerating from a slightly downwardly revised 0.4% rise in the previous month. This marked the fastest growth since February, driven by increases in seven of the thirteen manufacturing sub-sectors, with the largest positive contribution coming from the manufacture of transport equipment (10.7% vs 3.9% in October). Additionally, manufacturing output increased for basic pharmaceutical products and preparations (3.8% vs -3.2%), other manufacturing and repair (2.6% vs 3.2%), and basic metals and metal products (2.5% vs 0.3%). On the other hand, production declined for electrical equipment (-2.6% vs -1%) and computer, electronic and optical products (-1.2% vs -2.5%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing activity went up by 2.1% in November, defying market forecasts of a 0.3% decrease and rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.2% fall in October.

Manufacturing production in the UK rose by 0.5% month-on-month in October 2025, rebounding from a 1.7% fall in September but missing market expectations of a 1.0% gain. The recovery was largely driven by increases in six of the thirteen manufacturing subsectors, with the largest positive contributions coming from the manufacture of transport equipment (3.6% vs -13.8%), supported by growth in motor vehicles (9.5%), machinery (4.4%), and other manufacturing and repair (2.8%). However, despite a rebound in motor vehicle manufacturing, output remains nearly 22% below August levels, as the effects of the earlier cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover continue to be evident. Meanwhile, output slipped in the manufacture of food, beverages, and tobacco (-0.5% vs 0.2%) and computer, electronic, and optical products (-3.5% vs 4.6%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing activity declined 0.8% in October, improving from a 2.2% drop in September but worse than market expectations of a 0.1% decline.

Manufacturing production in the UK fell by 1.7% month-over-month in September 2025, reversing a downwardly revised 0.6% increase in August and well above market expectations of a 0.3% decline. The latest figure marked the sharpest fall since April 2024, with seven of the thirteen sub-sectors recording monthly decreases. Notably, the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers (-28.6%) contributed negative 1.29 percentage points to the overall monthly decline. The slump was largely due to a sharp fall in car production, dragged down by a month-long shutdown at Jaguar Land Rover that severely impacted both output and its wider supply chain. Other sub-sectors experiencing decreases included the manufacture of transport equipment (-13.8%) and textiles, wearing apparel, and leather products (-2.5%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing production dropped by 2.2%, following a downwardly revised 0.7% fall in the previous month and worse than market forecasts of a 0.8% decline.