Manufacturing activity in South Africa decreased by 0.7% year-on-year in January 2026, after an upwardly revised 1.5% fall in December, marking the third consecutive month of declines. The main negative contributors were the wood and wood products, paper, publishing, and printing division (-11.0%, -1.3 percentage points) and the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products, and machinery division (-5.7%, -1.2 pp). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output rose by 1.5%, after an upwardly revised 1.3% decline in the previous month. source: Statistics South Africa

Industrial Production in South Africa decreased 0.70 percent in January of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Industrial Production in South Africa averaged 0.75 percent from 1974 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 101.30 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -52.70 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - South Africa Industrial Production - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Manufacturing Production - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Industrial Production in South Africa decreased 0.70 percent in January of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Industrial Production in South Africa is expected to be -0.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Manufacturing Production is projected to trend around 1.30 percent in 2027 and 1.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-12 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Dec -1.4% -2% -0.8%
2026-03-12 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Jan -0.7% -1.5% -2.0%
2026-04-09 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Feb -0.7% -1.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 96.00 100.00 Companies Jan 2026
Changes in Inventories -6246.00 17267.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Electricity Production 18029.00 17488.00 Gigawatt-hour Jan 2026
Gold Production YoY 0.70 2.00 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY -0.70 -1.50 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 1.50 -1.30 percent Jan 2026
Mining Production YoY 4.60 2.80 percent Jan 2026


South Africa Manufacturing Production
In South Africa, industrial production measures the output of businesses integrated in the manufacturing sector of the economy.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-0.70 -1.50 101.30 -52.70 1974 - 2026 percent Monthly
2019=100, NSA

News Stream
South Africa Factory Sector Shrinks for 3rd Month
Manufacturing activity in South Africa decreased by 0.7% year-on-year in January 2026, after an upwardly revised 1.5% fall in December, marking the third consecutive month of declines. The main negative contributors were the wood and wood products, paper, publishing, and printing division (-11.0%, -1.3 percentage points) and the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products, and machinery division (-5.7%, -1.2 pp). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output rose by 1.5%, after an upwardly revised 1.3% decline in the previous month.
2026-03-12
South Africa Factory Activity Shrinks for 2nd Month
Manufacturing activity in South Africa fell by 1.4% year-on-year in December 2025, marking a two-month downturn following an upwardly revised 2% decline in November. Food and beverages (-4.6%, -1.4 percentage points), wood and wood products, paper, publishing, and printing (-5.2%, -0.6 points), and basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products, and machinery (-2.3%, -0.4 points) were the largest contributors to the decline. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output decreased by 1.2%, after an upwardly revised 2.1% slump in the previous month. In 2025, total manufacturing production shrank by 1.3% compared with 2024.
2026-02-12
South Africa Factory Output Posts Surprise Decline
Manufacturing output in South Africa fell by 1% year-on-year in November 2025, following an upwardly revised 0.4% rise in October and against analysts' forecast of a 0.2% increase. This marked the first decline in factory activity since August, led by wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-7.9%); basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-2.5%) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-4.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output shrank by 1.1% in November, after a 1% rise in the previous month. Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.6% in the three months ended November 2025 compared with the previous three months.
2026-01-08