South West manufacturers have been warned about a “darkening outlook for exports” ahead of he UK’s total Brexit from the European Union – especially if there is “no deal”.
A major survey published by manufacturers’ organisation Make UK and business advisory firm BDO has revealed the damage wrought on the sector by the coronavirus pandemic and also warns of a “bumpy road ahead” for factories due to Brexit.
The survey shows the “brutal” impact of the Covid-19 crisis with the sector forecast to see a 12% drop in output nationally this year.
And Make UK has also substantially downgraded its growth forecasts for the sector overall for 2021, with Brexit a major factor, to just 2.7%, down from 5.1%. GDP is forecast to contract by 11.3% in 2020 and grow 5.4% in 2021.
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But the survey also revels a chink of light, in that South West manufacturers are continuing the long road back towards growth from the historic lows experienced earlier in the year.
According to the survey, output in the South West increased significantly to a balance of +19%, substantially ahead of the national average.
This is mainly reflected in the positive picture for UK orders which is substantially above the national average, while the picture for export orders is flat, as is the picture for total orders overall.
Despite the gradual improvement in business conditions, recruitment intentions are still negative while investment intentions are substantially negative, reflecting the efforts of companies to control costs and manage debt accumulated during the crisis.
Jim Davison, region director for Make UK in the South West, said: “Manufacturing has stepped back from the abyss that it stared into earlier in the year. But, make no mistake it is going to be a long haul back, with talk of a V shaped recovery nothing more than fanciful.
“However, having endured over four years of political uncertainty, combined with the pandemic many in industry are feeling like an exhausted boxer in the final round of a bout, with a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU potentially landing a knockout blow.
“Should this happen the nascent recovery is likely to go into reverse, with significant damage to manufacturing and job losses following in already hard hit areas and sectors.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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“It is essential that the first step towards a fuller recovery is provided by a comprehensive tariff and, quota free, trade agreement with the EU with a sensible range of easements to allow business some time to adapt.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to an extension for talks in a bid to hammer out a deal. But Mr Johnson has warned that a no deal scenario is still the “most likely” outcome.
Matthew Sewell, head of manufacturing at BDO in the South West, said: “After a torrid year, manufacturers in the South West who rely on Continental supply chains and export markets now face a race against the clock to prepare for the end of the transition period.
“The prolonged negotiations with the EU have made this far more difficult than it should have been. Manufacturers are now desperate for greater clarity so that they can be released from the post-referendum paralysis which has made it nigh-on impossible to take long term decisions.”
