Nigeria PMI eases to 52.5 in July 2026 as later records cite Saudi Arabia and UAE

The underlying Nigeria survey showed six months of expansion, while later inputs described separate July non-oil PMI releases for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Summary

The core Nigeria reading remained a July 2026 Stanbic IBTC PMI of 52.5, down from 53.4 in June and consistent with a sixth straight monthly improvement in private-sector conditions. Later inputs appear to describe different Gulf releases rather than the same event: Saudi Arabia's Riyad Bank non-oil PMI was reported at 53.1, down from 53.3, while the newest input showed the S&P Global UAE PMI rising to 52.7 from 50.8, its strongest improvement since March after June's more than five-year low. The UAE survey cited a five-month high in new orders, renewed export growth, expanding output and hiring, robust purchasing activity, supply-related inventory declines, elevated input cost inflation, modest selling price gains and confidence at its lowest since March, with only 7% of firms expecting higher output over the coming year.

Terms & Concepts
  • PMI: A survey-based indicator of business conditions in which readings above 50 point to expansion and readings below 50 indicate contraction.
  • new orders: A measure of fresh business received by companies, often used as an early signal of demand.
  • input cost inflation: The pace at which companies' costs for materials, labor or other operating inputs are rising.