The manufacturing sector grew at its slowest pace for nearly two years in June, raising fresh doubts about its ability to power the UK's economic recovery.

The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index, where a reading of more than 50 indicates growth in overall manufacturing activity, slowed to 51.3, down from 52 in May.

Its lowest reading since September 2009 was brought about by weak domestic demand and slower growth in exports as the global economy "drifted into a softer patch’’ in the wake of the Japanese tsunami and eurozone debt crisis.

It had been hoped the sector could play a key part in the UK economic recovery but its growth has slowed every month since hitting a record high at the start of the year.

Rob Dobson, a senior economist at Markit, described the report as worrying and said the market had slipped closer to stagnation.

He added: "With strong headwinds already in place and austerity measures likely to put increasingly counteractive pressure on domestic and consumer demand, it looks as if manufacturing has entered a slower growth phase which could be with us for some time.

"The survey data will call into question the sector's ability to play a major role in delivering a robust and sustainable economic recovery."