UK manufacturing is expanding again. That sounds positive, but for anyone dealing with late payments, the detail matters: more orders can also mean more working-capital strain and more invoice disputes.

What happened

S&P Global’s UK Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.8 in January 2026 (up from 50.6 in December) — the strongest reading since August 2024. New orders improved, export demand picked up, but employment still fell (just at a slower pace). Input costs rose sharply, linked to raw materials, energy, and labour. Confidence improved too.

Why it matters for debt collection

1. More sales, slower cash: When factories get busier, they buy more, pay more, and ship more but the gap between paying suppliers and getting paid can widen. Expect more “pay next week”, more part-payments, and more requests to extend te ...