INDIA’S manufacturing sector gained fresh mo­mentum in April, driven by a sharp increase in out­put and robust interna­tional demand, according to the latest HSBC India Manufacturing Purchas­ing Managers’ Index.

The seasonally ad­justed PMI edged up marginally to 58.2 in April from 58.1 in March, marking the strongest im­provement in the sector’s health in ten months.

Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC, said, “The nota­ble increase in new ex­port orders in April may indicate a potential shift in production to India, as businesses adapt to the evolving trade landscape and US tariff announce­ments.”

Bhandari added, “Manufacturing output growth strengthened to a ten-month high on ro­bust orders. Input prices increased slightly faster, but the impact on mar­gins could be more than offset by the much-faster rise in output prices, of which the index jumped to the highest level sinc October 2013.” — ANI

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