Irish manufacturing growth strongest in April since mid-2022, PMI shows

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Growth in Ireland's manufacturing sector accelerated in April thanks to a robust expansion in new orders amid signs of stock building due to tariff uncertainty, a survey showed on Thursday.

The Irish Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 53.0 from 51.6 in March, S&P Global reported, moving further above the 50.0 threshold that separates expansion from contraction for a fourth consecutive month.

That was its highest level since June 2022 and was well ahead of the flash April readings for the euro zone, United States and Britain.

"The rise in April was broad-based, with robust growth in output and new orders, and signs of stock building amid tariff uncertainty," said David McNamara, AIB Chief Economist.

"Nonetheless, some respondents noted that U.S. tariffs had led to delayed decision-making on major investments, dragging down export orders in April," he added.

The data also showed a downturn in export order books, following a solid expansion in March.

The authors cited anecdotal evidence that pointed to a mixed picture across major global regions, with softer U.S. demand offsetting rising spending by clients in Asia and Europe.

Irish manufacturers maintained a generally upbeat assessment of the outlook for output levels over the coming year, with 35% of respondents predicting a rise and 9% expecting a decline.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Hugh Lawson)