Aug 3 (Reuters) – Spain’s manufacturing sector returned to marginal growth in July, even as output and new orders fell again amid market uncertainty and Middle East-related supply disruption, a business survey showed on Monday.
• The S&P Spain Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50.2 from 49.7 in June, a survey by S&P Global showed. A Reuters survey of nine analysts had pointed to a reading of 50.0.
• “The uneven performance of Spain’s manufacturing sector seen in 2026 continued in July. Output and new orders both fell, linked to the underlying uncertainty presently dominating product markets,” said Paul Smith, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
• Production fell for a second straight month, while new orders declined for a third month running, though only marginally and at a much slower pace than in June.
• New export sales fell again and by more than total new business.
• Supplier delivery times lengthened noticeably again in July as shipping disruption linked to the Middle East conflict persisted.
• Employment fell for an 11th consecutive month, although only marginally, as firms often chose not to replace leavers and some held back from hiring because of weak sales.
• Price pressures eased further. Input cost inflation slowed for a second month to its weakest since February, while output price inflation softened to a five-month low.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Toby Chopra)
