U.S., Jan. 12 -- Shannon Murphy, Assistant Head of Risk Underwriting and manufacturing specialist at Euler Hermes, examines the last 12 months and explains where the risks lie for the sector in the year ahead.

Manufacturers around the world have had a challenging year in 2019. The impact of the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China and uncertainty surrounding the UK's withdrawal from the EU have both contributed to the slowing of the global economy, which will have given the sector's leaders many sleepless nights this year.

For the UK it has been particularly volatile, with global headwinds compounding the Brexit-related issues the sector faces. Input cost rises, uncertainty around tariffs after its withdrawal from the EU and u...