The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.6 in April of 2018 from 50.7 in the previous month. The reading pointed to the strongest pace of expansion in manufacturing sector in 22 months, as output expanded the most since July 2014 and new orders grew at the fastest rate since June 2016.
In addition, buying activity picked-up further, with the rate of growth accelerating to the strongest since July 2014. Meantime, staffing levels stagnated following increases in the prior two months, while sentiment dipped to the lowest since December 2012. At the same time, new export orders declined the most in just over a year. On the price front, input cost inflation softened from March’s 29-month high but remained sharp, while factory gate charges went up the least in six months.
