Manufacturing operations across Asia experienced a slowdown during March as escalating energy expenses and global economic uncertainty stemming from the Middle East conflict began impacting regional production, according to business surveys released Wednesday.
The data underscores the difficulties facing policymakers throughout a region that depends on approximately 80% of petroleum transported via the Strait of Hormuz, leaving numerous nations exposed to energy-related economic shocks from the ongoing warfare.
Chinese manufacturing continued its growth streak for the fourth consecutive month in March, though companies faced mounting inflation pressures and supply chain difficulties, private sector data revealed.
S&P Global’s RatingDog China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 50.8 in March, down from February’s 52.1 reading and below the anticipated 51.6 forecast. Values above 50 indicate expansion while readings below signal contraction.
Production activity decelerated across multiple economies including Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines during March, with PMI data demonstrating how the Middle Eastern crisis was already affecting regional businesses.
Japanese manufacturing facilities also experienced setbacks from deteriorating business sentiment and cost increases that reached their highest level in 19 months.
Japan’s final S&P Global Manufacturing PMI declined to 51.6 in March from the previous month’s 53.0. Input costs climbed at their steepest pace since August 2024 as Middle Eastern warfare pushed up energy and commodity prices, compounding existing pressures from currency weakness and worker shortages.
“The war has also fuelled greater uncertainty about the global economic outlook, dampening business confidence and resulting in more cautious hiring and purchasing activity,” said Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Indonesia’s manufacturing index dropped to 50.1 from February’s 53.8, while Vietnam’s reading slowed to 51.2 compared to the prior month’s 54.3, survey data indicated.
South Korea bucked the regional trend with factory output growing at its fastest rate in over four years during March, driven by semiconductor demand and new product introductions.
Financial markets have experienced volatility this month following the Iran conflict’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for roughly one-fifth of worldwide oil and gas shipments, pushing crude prices higher and increasing broader inflation.
Growing appetite for the safe-haven dollar has also weakened emerging Asian currencies, creating additional challenges for regional central banks working to protect their economies from secondary effects of the conflict.
