How does the Indian service sector maintain strength in July amid growth in orders and global sales?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PMI of 60.5 indicates strong service sector growth.
- Finance and Insurance sector leads in performance.
- Increased international demand from various regions.
- Optimism among service providers for future growth.
- Advertising and marketing are key growth drivers.
New Delhi, Aug 5 (NationPress) The persistent rise in demand for the Indian services sector has significantly bolstered the growth of overall new orders, global sales, and production in July, as indicated by a report released on Tuesday.
The seasonally adjusted Services PMI Business Activity Index stood at 60.5 in July, showing minimal variation from 60.4 in June, which reflects another notable increase in production, according to the HSBC India Services PMI report for the month.
This rate of growth marks the most robust expansion since August 2024, the report noted.
"With a PMI of 60.5, the services sector showcases a strong growth trajectory, primarily driven by an uptick in new export orders. While future optimism has increased, it is still below the levels seen in the first half of 2025," stated Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC.
In terms of pricing, both input and output costs experienced a slight uptick compared to June, although this trend may shift in the coming period, as suggested by the recent CPI and WPI data, Bhandari added.
Survey participants indicated that the sustained rise in new business intakes was the primary driver of output growth, according to the report.
Factors such as advertising, strong demand, and the onboarding of new clients all contributed to the latest surge in new orders.
July's increase was pronounced and marked the second-fastest growth in nearly a year, only trailing behind June, the report highlighted.
Indian service providers also reported a notable enhancement in international demand for their offerings.
They acquired new contracts from regions including Asia, Canada, Europe, the UAE, and the US. The growth rate in external sales was sharp and the second-fastest in a year, following May, as noted in the report.
The Finance and Insurance sector emerged as the top performer in terms of new orders and business activity, while the Real Estate and Business Services sector recorded the slowest growth.
The report indicates that service providers remain optimistic about the year ahead.
Factors bolstering business confidence include efficiency improvements, marketing efforts, technological innovation, and an expanding online presence, the report concluded.