The UK contract manufacturing market was fundamentally solid in the first quarter of 2026, showing healthy growth compared with the previous quarter, according to the latest Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) figures. The CMI stood at 75 for the quarter, up 8% on Q4 2025. It showed solid month-on-month growth from January onwards, but by the end March supplier quoting activitystarted seeing the effects of global events. On a process basis, machining represented 45% of the market, unchanged from the previous quarter, whilefabrication rose from 42% to 47% at the expense of other processes like moulding.

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