2026.04.3013:00:00UTC+00Chile’s Manufacturing Slump Deepens in March with 4.5% Annual Drop

Chile’s manufacturing sector extended its downturn in March 2026, with production contracting 4.5% year-over-year, according to data updated on 30 April 2026. The decline marks a clear deterioration from February 2026, when manufacturing output was already down 3.0% compared with the same month a year earlier.

The year-over-year figures indicate that Chile’s industrial base is facing mounting pressure, as each of the past two months has posted a deeper contraction than the last. The “actual” reading for March reflects the change versus March 2025, while the “previous” February indicator captures the change versus February 2025, underscoring a worsening trend rather than a one-off setback.

The latest numbers are likely to sharpen the focus of investors, businesses and policymakers on the health of Chile’s real economy, as persistent weakness in manufacturing can weigh on employment, export performance and broader growth prospects in the months ahead.