RIYADH: Kuwait’s non-oil private sector continued to expand in January, supported by strong gains in output and new orders, while Egypt’s business conditions weakened slightly despite ongoing growth in activity, new surveys showed.
According to S&P Global, Kuwait’s Purchasing Managers’ Index eased to 53 in January from 54 in December, but remained well above the 50 threshold that signals expansion. The reading marked a 17th straight month of improvement in operating conditions.
The sustained growth of Kuwait’s non-oil sector aligns with a broader trend across the Middle East and North Africa, where countries are pursuing economic diversification to reduce reliance on crude revenues.
Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “The Kuwaiti non-oil private sector started 2026 in very much a similar vein to how it ended 2025. Marked improvements in output and new orders were registered again as advertising and competitive pricing continued to drive growth.”
According to the report, output and new orders continued to rise at marked rates in January, with growth softening only slightly from the end of 2025. New export orders also increased at a broadly similar pace to total new business, driven by demand in neighboring markets.
