Australia’s manufacturing sector showed a modest improvement at the start of the year, with the Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI rising to 52.3 in January 2026 from 51.6 previously.
The increase in the index, which remains above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, signals a further strengthening in manufacturing conditions in the country. Both the latest figure and the prior reading refer to January 2026, suggesting a slight upward revision or update to the earlier estimate.
The updated data, released on 1 February 2026, indicate that Australia’s factory activity continues to expand at a steady pace, underpinning broader economic momentum in the early part of the year.
