Purchasing Manufacturing index decreases in April

By The Star Staff

The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for Puerto Rico’s manufacturing sector decreased to 53.6 in April 2025. A reading above the threshold of 50 suggests an expansion in the manufacturing sector with respect to the previous month.

Employment increased with respect to the previous month. Production, New Orders, Employment and Suppliers Delivery were at or above the threshold level of 50. In a supplemental survey of manufacturing establishments, the biggest challenges faced by companies during the past month were: operations (uncertainty 25%, supplier deliveries 8%, sales 8%, costs 8%, own inventories 8%, lead time 8%, outsourcing 8%), utilities (unreliable utilities 17%), and human resources (employment 17%). The Puerto Rico Manufacturing-Purchasing Managers Index (PRM-PMI) has been at or above the threshold level in 112 of the 179 months since the survey was first undertaken.

In April, the New Orders PMI decreased to 57.1, staying above the threshold for four consecutive months. A reading above 50 suggests that new orders at manufacturing establishments in April were higher than in March. The Production PMI decreased to 57.1 in April, staying above the threshold for four consecutive months. A reading above 50 indicates that manufacturing production in April was higher than in March.

In April, the Employment PMI increased to 60.7, staying above the threshold for two consecutive months. The Own Inventories PMI increased to 42.9, staying below the threshold for three consecutive months. The Supplier Deliveries PMI remained the same at 50.0 in April, staying at or above the threshold for five consecutive months.