South Africa Business Sentiment Eases Slightly: SACCI

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) business confidence index edged down to 134.3 in September 2026 from 135.1 in August, but stayed near its highest level since June 2011. The chamber noted that rising energy costs remained a key concern for businesses by pushing up operating expenses and putting pressure on profitability. Local gasoline prices climbed to a fresh record in October, placing households and businesses under renewed strain. However, higher precious-metal prices, together with stronger tourism activity and vehicle sales, helped support business confidence compared with a year earlier.

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) business confidence index rose to 125.4 in July 2026, the highest reading since March, up from 123.5 in June. Higher new vehicle sales, stronger merchandise export volumes and lower energy prices supported the improvement, while higher inflation and lower precious metal prices weighed on business confidence. Sacci added that the number of foreign travellers to South Africa remained a positive factor despite short-term instability linked to the Middle East conflict. “The continuing war in the Middle East and its destabilizing effect on the crude oil price as well as its impact on the supply of fuel are weighing on global economic prospects,” the chamber noted.

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) business confidence index rose to 124.1 in May 2026 from a seven-month low of 123.6 in the prior month. The improvement was attributed to higher new vehicle sales and stronger merchandise exports, with imports contributing to a lesser extent, as companies tried to adjust to the oil price shock from the Middle East conflict. Conversely, the chamber noted that a decline in overseas tourist arrivals had a substantial negative impact on the index, while rising inflation remained a concern for businesses.