“With a fall in new orders and the pressure of rising manufacturing costs, it’s not surprising the overall performance of the sector dipped during the quarter. Manufacturers continued to struggle with securing new business leads and tackling outstanding backlogs. With the full implications of Brexit still to be defined and inflation on the rise, the impact this may have on Scottish business remains uncertain. Recent UK figures appear to show a brighter start to 2017 for the wider sector, Scottish manufacturers will be keen that some of this sun shines north of the border after a tough 12 months.”