El crecimiento del sector privado en Zambia alcanza su nivel más alto en seis meses

Investing.com – According to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index data released on Tuesday by Standard Chartered and S&P Global, Zambia’s private sector recorded its strongest improvement in the business environment in six months in March.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index rose from 49.3 in February to 51.4 in March, returning to the expansion zone above the 50.0 threshold. This improvement represents the strongest growth since September 2025.

The turnaround was driven by the renewed expansion in output and new orders during the month. Companies in Zambia reported that this was the second increase in activity within six months, attributing the growth to a renewed rise in new business. New orders expanded at the fastest pace since September 2025, supported by successful advertising campaigns and stronger customer demand.

Despite the overall improvement, output in the manufacturing sector as well as in the wholesale and retail segments still fell.

Employment fell at the fastest rate since September 2024, although business confidence improved to its highest level since May 2025. Companies attributed the optimism to expectations of further improvement in customer demand.

In pricing, total input costs were broadly unchanged, as lower purchase prices offset higher payroll bills. Wage costs rose at the fastest pace in six months due to incentive and cost-of-living subsidies, while favorable exchange rate movements led purchase prices to fall for a second consecutive month.

Output prices fell at the fastest rate since May 2020, as firms sought to maintain competitiveness and pass cost savings on to customers.

The expansion in new orders caused backlogged work to rise again. In response, companies increased purchases of input items at the fastest pace in four months and built up procurement inventories to support the expected rise in customer demand.

Supplier performance deteriorated for the first time since December 2024, owing to road transport delays and international supply chain disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.

The data collection period was from March 12 to March 25.

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