Manufacturing activity in South Africa slipped by 2.8% year-on-year in February 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.1% fall in January and worse than the expected 0.3% decrease. This marks the fourth consecutive month of downturn in industrial activity and the most pronounced since April 2025, mainly on account of food & beverages (-4.5%); wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-9.7%) and basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-3.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output fell by 2.2%, after an upwardly revised 1.9% rise in the previous month. Manufacturing production decreased by 2% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the previous three months. source: Statistics South Africa

Industrial Production in South Africa decreased 2.80 percent in February 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 April of 2026.

Industrial Production in South Africa decreased 2.80 percent in February of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Industrial Production in South Africa is expected to be 2.10 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
2026-03-12 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Jan -0.7% -1.5% -2.0%
2026-04-09 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Feb -2.8% -0.1% -0.3% -1.3%
2026-05-12 11:00 AM
Manufacturing Production YoY
Mar -2.8% -0.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 135.00 96.00 Companies Feb 2026
Changes in Inventories -6246.00 17267.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Electricity Production 16765.00 18043.00 Gigawatt-hour Feb 2026
Gold Production YoY 0.70 2.00 percent Jan 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY -2.80 -0.10 percent Feb 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM -2.20 1.90 percent Feb 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
-2.80 -0.10 101.30 -52.70 1974 - 2026 percent Monthly
2019=100, NSA

News Stream
South Africa Factory Output Falls More than Expected
Manufacturing activity in South Africa slipped by 2.8% year-on-year in February 2026, following a downwardly revised 0.1% fall in January and worse than the expected 0.3% decrease. This marks the fourth consecutive month of downturn in industrial activity and the most pronounced since April 2025, mainly on account of food & beverages (-4.5%); wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-9.7%) and basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-3.6%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output fell by 2.2%, after an upwardly revised 1.9% rise in the previous month. Manufacturing production decreased by 2% in the three months ended February 2026 compared with the previous three months.
2026-04-09
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