The headline AIB Ireland manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 49.9 points in November from 51.5 in October. The swing below the neutral mark of 50 points last month indicates a decline in overall activity.
S&P Global said this was driven by a renewed downturn in order books, even as output growth edged up to its highest since February. Some survey respondents said the increase in production was to rebuild inventories.
However, the decline in new business was the fastest since June, with manufacturers saying this was due to weak customer demand and less favourable global economic conditions. As a result, factory hiring declined for the third month in a row.
The manufacturing PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of 250 manufacturers in Ireland. The responses were collected between November 12 and 22.
