Sweden's Swedbank Manufacturing PMI inched up to 57.3 in May 2026 from a downwardly revised 57.0 in April, marking eleven consecutive months above the long-term average. This was the highest reading since February 2022, driven by stronger production (58.1 vs. 57.7 in April) and employment (59.1 vs. 55.5).
By contrast, order intake eased to 55.8 from 58.9, while suppliers’ delivery times lengthened marginally to 64.1 from 64. On the price side, the index for suppliers’ raw material and input costs fell by 0.4 points to 81.6.
Looking ahead, manufacturers remained notably optimistic. The production plans index edged up to 70.7 from 70.3, remaining above the 70 threshold for a second consecutive month. According to Jörgen Kennemar, Sweden’s industrial sector continues to firm and still outperforms many international peers, while Middle East–related supply disruptions and higher raw material costs have yet to significantly affect production plans.
