Report Highlights - Q4 2024
Sales Slowdown
2024 ended on a slow note for most SMB manufacturers, as concerns about weak consumer sentiment and looming tariff wars rippled through all markets.
%
United Kingdom
Sales dropped -41% from Q3 to Q4 2024. However overall revenues for the year were still up on 2023.
%
Australia
Australian manufacturers placed 47% more orders with suppliers in Q3 2024 vs Q2, and 32% more YoY.
%
New Zealand
New Zealand SME manufacturers placed 48% more POs in Q3 2024 vs Q2, and 22% more YoY.
Margins under pressure
Despite a profit margin uptick in all regions for Q4, high costs and careful consumers kept the pressure on through 2024, with lower returns on inventory investment vs 2023.
£.36
United Kingdom
The average Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment fell from £3.73 in 2023 to £3.36 in 2024.
$.62
Australia
The average Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment fell from $3.04 in 2023 to $2.62 in 2024.
$.12
New Zealand
The average Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment fell from $2.28 in 2023 to $2.12 in 2024.
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About the report
The Manufacturing Health Index is a quarterly report that assesses SME manufacturer performance using a big data approach. Q4 2024 results were based on the performance of a cohort of 1,425 manufacturers in the UK, Australia and New Zealand that use Unleashed software to manage their operations. Findings were calculated using Unleashed’s secure records of every purchase, sale and stock movement made between Q1 2018 and the present date for each business.
About Unleashed
Unleashed is the world’s favourite inventory management software – a cloud based platform that makes every day easier for thousands of small to medium firms. With complete control of all purchasing, production, warehousing and sales workflows, Unleashed helps you save time, free-up cash flow, and dramatically boost productivity.
Ready to see Unleashed in action? Watch a free 15-minute demo here – or learn more about manufacturing inventory management with Unleashed below.