01.04.202615:20:22UTC+00Colombia's Manufacturing PMI Eases in February

Colombia’s Davivienda Manufacturing PMI edged down to 51.4 in March from 51.6 in February 2026, still signaling a moderate improvement in operating conditions. New orders grew modestly, with firms citing resilient demand and new client acquisitions, though the overall pace of expansion softened. Output continued to rise at a solid rate, remaining above its long-run average, but slowed compared with the previous month.

Cost pressures intensified, leading to sharp increases in selling prices—the second-strongest rise in nearly three and a half years—as input costs climbed at one of the fastest rates since March 2023. Companies reported higher prices for chemicals, metals, textiles, and wood, with the war in the Middle East noted as a contributing factor.

Employment declined for the third consecutive month, though only modestly. Purchasing activity, by contrast, increased sharply, with buying volumes rising at the fastest pace since November as firms looked to get ahead of further anticipated price hikes. Supply chain conditions deteriorated, with delivery times lengthening to their worst level so far in 2026. Meanwhile, backlogs of work declined at the steepest rate in 15 months, and business confidence among manufacturers weakened, slipping to a 21‑month low and falling below its long-run average.