FX.co ★ Ireland Factory Growth Hits 4-Month High

The AIB Ireland Manufacturing PMI edged up to 55.5 in September 2026 from 55.4 in August, reaching a four-month high and marking the second-strongest improvement since May 2022. Output expanded at its fastest rate in four-and-a-half years, underpinned by robust new orders, while export orders recorded their sharpest rise in three months. Employment posted a solid increase, and purchasing activity grew at its quickest pace in four months. Firms continued to build both pre-production and finished-goods inventories, and backlogs of work rose for the third consecutive month amid ongoing capacity constraints and raw-material shortages. Supplier delivery times lengthened further, reflecting delays in international shipping. Input cost inflation accelerated to a three-month peak, driven by higher energy, fuel, and transport costs, while output price inflation also climbed to a three-month high. Business confidence remained in positive territory but softened to a five-month low, with 38% of firms expecting higher output over the coming year.