2026.04.0100:01:00UTC+00Ireland’s Manufacturing Momentum Builds as AIB PMI Edges Higher in March

Ireland’s manufacturing sector extended its positive run in March, with the AIB Ireland Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) ticking up to 53.7 from 53.1 in February 2026. The latest reading, updated on 1 April 2026, signals a further strengthening in operating conditions across the country’s factories.

The move higher keeps the index comfortably above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, suggesting that Ireland’s manufacturers are experiencing a modest but sustained upswing. While the gain from February to March is incremental, it reinforces the view that the sector is on a gradual growth path as the second quarter of 2026 begins.

With the PMI advancing for March, the data will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as an indicator of Ireland’s industrial resilience and its potential contribution to broader economic performance in 2026.