Global manufacturing levels rose broadly in February as procurement activity expanded in both capital-intensive and consumer-facing industries, pointing to a cyclical upswing prior to the war in the Middle East, according to a monthly report from GEP.
Broken out by regions, supply chains into Asia showed the busiest levels since October, 2022, due to sharp rises in manufacturing activity in China,...
The strongest version of this narrative presents a nuanced picture of global manufacturing resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty. The data shows Asia’s supply chains thriving while North America cools, with Europe and the U.K. stabilizing. The warning about Middle East conflicts disrupting oil supplies is grounded in observable economic mechanisms—energy costs ripple through petrochemicals and shipping, affecting global trade. The call for U.S. manufacturers to act on tariff rulings adds a la...