-- Despite headwinds from Persian Gulf turmoils, Asia's business sectors largely expanded in April, led by the automobile industry, reported S&P Global on Wednesday.
"Output growth was recorded across 16 of the 18 monitored Asian sectors in April. This figure was up from 15 in March, as metals & mining production returned to growth," said S&P Global, citing its surveys of regional economies.
Showing strength in April was the automotive industry. "Leading the rankings for the first time in nearly two years was the automobiles & auto parts sector. The pace of output expansion in the sector quickened to the steepest since May 2024 and was rapid overall," explained S&P Global.
Among the broader categories, consumer products did generally well in April.
"Consumer goods outperformed the other six tracked areas, with growth also supported by strong and accelerated expansions in output across the beverages & food and household & personal use products segments," added S&P Global.
The tech and industrial sectors followed consumer goods on the upside, while the slowest expanding sectors were basic materials, financials and healthcare.
In contrast to the general regional expansion, the forestry & paper products and construction materials sectors experienced softening in April, reported S&P Global.
However, Asian business managers also reported rising and accelerating costs of operation in April.
"On the prices front, the latest data indicated that cost burdens rose in 17 of the 18 monitored sectors in April. Notably, the majority of these saw expenses increase at a stronger pace than in March," said S&P Global.
Of the 18 monitored industries, only banks and real estate lowered output charges, said the credit-rating agency.
The Asia Sector PMI indices were compiled by S&P Global from surveys received from 6,000 Asian private-sector companies.