Activity in Indonesia’s manufacturing sector grew in March 2019 on the back of solid domestic demand. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) accelerated to a reading of 51.2 in March, from 50.1 in the preceding month (a reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction). It also meant that Indonesia managed to outperform its regional peers as the average PMI in the ASEAN counties stood at 50.3 in March. Overall, survey data show a marginal expansion in Indonesia’s manufacturing economy during the first quarter of 2019.

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Manufacturing activity in Indonesia contracted in January 2019. It was the first time since exactly a year ago that Indonesia’s manufacturing activity contracted. The headline seasonally adjusted Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (or PMI) fell from 51.2 in December 2018 to 49.9 in the first month of 2019, representing largely unchanged conditions in the sector.

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Manufacturing activity in Indonesia continued to expand in November 2018. However, the pace of expansion slowed further, for the third straight month, and the November reading was in fact the lowest reading of the past five months.

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Indonesia's manufacturing activity continued to expand in June 2018 albeit at a lower level compared to the preceding month. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined from a reading of 51.7 in May to 50.3 in June (slightly above the 50.0 level that separates expansion from contraction in the manufacturing sector). Slower rises in both output and new orders were key reasons that explain the month-on-month decline.

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Indonesia's manufacturing sector has seen its contribution to overall Indonesian macroeconomic growth sliding over the past two decades. The cause is the lack of new and innovative products in this sector. This is the conclusion of Ricardo Hausmann, Director of the Center for International Development and a Professor of the Practice of Economic Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

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Over the past decades, Indonesia's manufacturing industry has developed from a significant growth engine (for the whole economy) into a less significant one. Prior to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-1998, non-oil & gas manufacturing accounted for 30 percent of Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP). Today, however, the figure is around 18 percent. If we add the oil & gas industry, then the figure rises only slightly to 19.9 percent.

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Indonesia's manufacturing activity continued to expand in September 2017, albeit at a slower pace compared to the preceding month. Based on the new Nikkei survey, released on Monday (02/10), Indonesia's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was recorded at 50.4 points, down from 50.7 in August (a reading of 50.0 separates contraction from expansion in the country's manufacturing activity).

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Rising output and stronger export orders caused a modest recovery in Indonesia's manufacturing sector in August 2017. Indonesia's Nikkei-Markit manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to a reading of 50.7 in August, from 48.6 in July (50.0 separates expansion from contraction in the manufacturing industry).

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Growth of manufacturing activity in Indonesia eased in May 2017. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to 50.6 in May from a reading of 51.2 in the preceding month. Last month manufacturing activity in Indonesia had hit a 10-month high, hence the lower reading indicates a loss of growth momentum for Indonesia's manufacturing sector. However, it remained comfortably above the boom-or-bust line of 50.0 that separates expansion from contraction.

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Good news for Indonesian manufacturers. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) recorded a second consecutive month of growth, touching a 10-month high of 51.2 in April 2017 (from a reading of 50.5 in the preceding month), as further expansion in order books encouraged local companies to boost production, while the relatively weaker rupiah rate (versus the US dollar) exerted upward pressure on input prices, with cost inflation reaching an 18-month peak. Subsequently, output prices rose at an accelerated pace.

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Manufacturing activity in Indonesia improved in May 2019 due to an increase in output and new orders. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose from 50.4 in April 2019 to 51.6 in the following month, its highest position in nine months (a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction, while a reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in manufacturing activity).

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Based on the latest data from IHS Markit, the headline seasonally adjusted Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell modestly to a reading of 50.5 in October 2018 (from 50.7 in the preceding month). The reading represents a marginal improvement in the health of Indonesia’s manufacturing sector.

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Manufacturing activity in Indonesia expanded in September 2018. However, the pace of growth slowed compared to the preceding month. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined from August's 26-month high of 51.9 to 50.7 in September (a reading of 50.0 separates contraction from expansion in the manufacturing sector).

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Rising domestic demand caused Indonesia's August manufacturing activity to grow at the fastest pace in more than two years. As a result local manufacturing companies added new people to their staff. The headline seasonally adjusted Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) grew to 51.9 in August 2018 (up from 50.5 in the preceding month), further above the 50.0 level that separates expansion from contraction in terms of manufacturing activity.

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Although manufacturing activity in Indonesia rose slightly in July 2018, there are a number of reasons to be concerned. The headline seasonally adjusted Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) indeed grew modestly from a reading of 50.3 in June to 50.5 in July (a reading of 50.0 separates contraction from expansion in the nation's manufacturing activity). However, overall conditions remain lacklustre in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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The Indonesia Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed a slight improvement to a reading of 51.7 in May 2018, up from 51.6 in the preceding month, meaning that activity in Indonesia's manufacturing sector expanded last month (a reading above 50.0 indicates expansion, while one below 50.0 indicates contraction). The PMI index measures the activity level of purchasing managers in the manufacturing sector. This survey is closely watched as purchasing managers usually have early access to data about their company's performance, which can be a leading indicator of overall economic performance.

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Indonesia's manufacturing activity improved in April 2018, touching its fastest growth pace in 22 months, on the back of strengthening domestic demand. The Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a reading of 51.6 in April 2018, up from 50.7 in the preceding month (a reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in manufacturing activity, while a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction). However, business confidence towards the business outlook (for the year ahead) weakened to the lowest point since December 2012.

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Indonesia's Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) eased to 50.7 in March 2018 from a reading of 51.4 in the preceding month (when manufacturing activity touched a 20-month high in Southeast Asia's largest economy). Softer expansion in output and new orders were cited as reason for slowing growth. A reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in manufacturing activity, while a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction.

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Indonesia's manufacturing activity improved markedly in February 2018 with the Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to a reading of 51.4, from 49.9 in January (the 50.0 level separates contraction from expansion). It was the fastest pace of growth for Indonesia's manufacturing sector since June 2016; growth that came on the back of rising output and new orders.

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One method to ignite structurally high economic growth for a sustained period of time in Indonesia is to encourage the development of the country's stagnant manufacturing sector. A thriving manufacturing industry (especially when it can export domestically manufactured products) will accelerate economic growth and generate plenty of employment opportunities (which will then encourage rising household consumption).

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