Austria’s manufacturing sector returned to expansion territory in March, as the Bank Austria Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 52.4 from 49.4 in February 2026. The move above the 50-point mark, which separates contraction from growth, signals a renewed pick-up in industrial activity after being in slight contraction the previous month.
The latest reading, updated on 27 March 2026, suggests improving conditions for Austrian manufacturers during March, with the index’s three-point gain indicating a notable strengthening in business sentiment and operating conditions compared with February. While detailed components of the survey are not provided, the headline improvement alone points to a more supportive environment for output and orders in Austria’s industrial sector as the first quarter draws to a close.
