Australia’s manufacturing sector lost momentum in September, with the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI slipping back into contraction territory. The index fell to 49.3 in September 2026 from 52.0 in August 2026, according to data updated on 22 September 2026.
The drop below the 50-point threshold — which separates expansion from contraction — signals that operating conditions in Australia’s manufacturing industry have weakened after a brief period of growth in August. The decline suggests softer demand and a possible pullback in new orders, production, or both, compared with the prior month.
Investors and policymakers will now be watching upcoming data closely to determine whether September’s reading marks the start of a more persistent slowdown in the manufacturing sector or a temporary setback following August’s expansionary print.