South Africa Manufacturing Production1974-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar

Manufacturing production in South Africa shrank by 4.1% year-on-year in July of 2021, following a downwardly revised 11.9% jump in June and defying market expectations of a 3.6% rise. It was the first decline in factory activity after four consecutive months of expansion, mainly due to lower production of petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-23.2% vs -13% in June); textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (-6.3% vs 18.7%) and food & beverages (-2% vs 5.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, manufacturing output plunged 8%, the most since April of 2020, likely linked to social unrest in parts of the country that forced businesses to shut down.

Manufacturing production in South Africa advanced by 12.5% year-on-year in June of 2021, following an upwardly revised 36.3% jump in May and compared with market expectations of an 11.25% surge. It was the fourth consecutive month of rising industrial activity, although at a much softer pace. Output growth slowed mostly for motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (84.1% vs 217.9% in May); basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (19.2% vs 43.1%); textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (17.5% vs 66%) and food & beverages (5.9% vs 21.6%). In addition, production plunged for petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-10.9% vs 3.4%), of which coke, petroleum products and nuclear fuel (-34.5% vs -15.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production went down 0.7%, following a downwardly revised 2% decline in May and defying market expectations of a 0.5% increase.

Manufacturing production in South Africa advanced 35.3 percent year-on-year in May of 2021, following an upwardly revised 88.1 record jump in April, partly due to low base effects from last year when production plunged amid the initial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Main positive contributions came from the manufacture of motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (215.7 percent); basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (42 percent); food and beverages (21.5 percent) and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (40 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production fell 2.6 percent, the most since April last year, following a 1.2 percent decrease in the previous month.

Manufacturing production in South Africa surged 87.9 percent year-on-year in April of 2021, a record increase, amid low base effects from last year when production fell at a record pace due to the coronavirus pandemic. It compares with market expectations of 88.3 percent. The largest contributions came from basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (163 percent); motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (4913 percent); food and beverages (28 percent); petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (36.2 percent); and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (87.9 percent). On a monthly basis, factory output was down 1.2 percent.