Companies continue 2010 with positive UK and export business performance
In February 2010, UK mechanical engineering firms continued to show strong month on month growth in terms of UK (50 per cent reporting gains) and export (52 per cent reporting gains) inquiries. Reported orders were also up, 45 per cent for the UK market and 42 per cent for export, compared with a month earlier, according to EAMA.
Martin Walder, EAMA chairman said, "The change since the start of the year has been marked. Orders have again strengthened for nearly half the respondents and half or more say that inquiries are also up both for the UK and for export.
"With export business picking up, banks must ensure that their SME clients have the support they need in terms of working capital and guarantees, so that they can order the raw materials and other components they need to meet increasing demand without overtrading.
"There are also some indications of possible good news to come. Respondents say there's a broader cross section of sectors being more active and fewer being less. As a result confidence is beginning to return."
