Russian manufacturing sector returns to growth in October, PMI shows

(Reuters) - Activity in Russia's manufacturing sector returned to expansion in October, recovering from its first slide into contraction in more than two years, a business survey showed on Friday, boosted by a sharp uptick in new export orders.

The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Russian manufacturing rose to 50.6 from 49.5 in September, moving back above the 50.0 level that separates expansion and contraction.

Despite the uptick, output and new orders continued to contract, albeit at a slower pace. Manufacturers cited muted customer demand as a reason for the decline, though the contraction in new sales was only fractional, S&P Global said.

Russia's significant spending on producing military equipment and weapons since invading Ukraine in February 2022 has buoyed a manufacturing sector that otherwise may have suffered as some countries shunned Moscow.

Gradually, Russian manufacturers have found new export markets, and the pace of new export order growth quickened to its fastest since January 2008, the survey showed.

"Demand conditions reportedly strengthened in neighbouring countries, which drove interest in Russian goods," S&P Global said.

Input costs and output charges rose sharply, driven by higher supplier and transportation prices, as well as unfavourable exchange rates, the survey showed.

"As has been the case in each month since December 2019, supplier performance at Russian manufacturers deteriorated in October," S&P Global said. "Delays were linked to logistics issues, with shipping and rail transportation mentioned in particular."

October saw a renewed rise in employment, with firms pinning hopes on stronger demand in the future, new product development and investment in capacity and automation, S&P Global said.

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Hugh Lawson)