Manufacturing production in the UK advanced by 1.2% month-on-month in March 2026, sharply exceeding market forecasts of a 0.2% decline and rebounding from a revised 0.2% fall in the previous month. Output increased in eight of the thirteen subsectors, with activity recovering in transport equipment (2% vs -2.1% in February), basic metals (2.1% vs -1.7%), rubber and plastic products (1.8% vs -0.4%), food, beverages and tobacco (1.1% vs -0.9%), textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (3.6% vs -3.9%), and wood and paper products (1.2% vs -0.4%). At the same time, output rose in basic pharmaceutical products (2.1% vs 0.5%), electrical equipment (3.3% vs 2.9%), and chemical products (2.9% vs 1.6%). Meanwhile, declines were recorded in computer, electronics and optical products (1.9% vs 2%). On a yearly basis, manufacturing production increased by 1.2% in March, against expectations of stagnation, recovering from a revised 0.8% decline in the preceding period.