LONDON, June 19 Reuters Britain39;s main manufacturing trade body Make UK revised up its outlook for this year on Monday thanks to strong demand for aircraft and electronics, but said it still expects production to fall over the year as a whole.

Make UK said it expected factory output to fall 0.3 this year compared with a 3.3 contraction expected three months earlier, and kept unchanged its forecast for 0.8 growth in 2024.

Manufacturers are seeing a gradually improving picture, but the word 39;gradually39; is doing a lot of heavy lifting, said James Brougham, senior economist at Make UK.

The improved but still sluggish outlook chimes with the picture for the broader economy, which has avoided a widely forecast recession and which Make UK expects will grow 0.4 this year and 1.3 in 2024.

Manufacturers reported modest order growth and plan a marked stepup in hiring. Aerospace had been boosted by a resumption of travel and aircraft orders after the COVID19 pandemic, while demand for electronics partly reflected businesses39; desire to counter labour shortages.

Supplychain pressures remain an issue for mediumsized firms, said Richard Austin, head of manufacturing at accountants BDO, who sponsored the survey of Make UK members.

They are facing continued disruption and increased costs at home and abroad, with many choosing to onshore operations but facing major barriers in doing so, Austin said.

Difficulties in sourcing materials were a major factor behind the initial…