South Africa Manufacturing Production1974-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

South Africa's manufacturing production fell 10.6% from a year ago in July of 2020, following a downwardly revised 15.8% slump in the prior month and less than an expected 12.5% decline. It was the softest downturn in industrial activity since March, amid some relaxation in lockdown measures. Slower decreases were recorded mostly for basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products & machinery (-11.6% vs -19.3% in June); glass and non-metallic mineral products (-9.8% vs -21.8%); wood & wood products (-13.1% vs -21.9%) and food & beverages (-11.4% vs -11.9%). In addition, production rebounded sharply for petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (4.3% vs -1.4%), of which coke, petroleum products and nuclear fuel (3.8% vs -5.7%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, manufacturing activity rose 7.6%, after an upwardly revised 17.9% plunge in June and beating market consensus of a 2.5% gain.

South Africa's manufacturing production fell 16.3% from a year earlier in June of 2020, following a 32.4% plunge in May. It was the softest downturn in industrial activity since March when the global pandemic started to hit the economy and strict lockdown measures were implemented to curb its spread. Output shrank less across all categories, in particular, basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products & machinery (-19.6% vs -33.6% in May); food & beverages (-11.4% vs -21%); motor vehicles, parts and accessories & other transport equipment (-38.8% vs -62%) and petroleum, chemical products, rubber & plastic products (-2.2% vs -27.3%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production grew 16.8%, following a 30.4% jump in the previous month.

South Africa's manufacturing production crashed 49.4% year-on-year in April of 2020, following an upwardly revised 5.5% slump March. The downturn in manufacturing output was extended for an eleventh consecutive month and was the sharpest on record, reflecting the strong impact of the global pandemic and a nationwide lockdown to control it. Output declines were seen across all categories, primarily motor vehicles, parts and accessories & other transport equipment (-98% vs -8.3%); glass and non-metallic mineral products (-83.4% vs -16.7%); textiles, clothing, leather & footwear (-75.5% vs -11.9%); furnishings (-83.5% vs -3.3%); basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products & machinery (-65.4% vs -8.3%); coke, petroleum products (-63.9% vs -21.7%) and rubber products (-77.2% vs -9%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, manufacturing production plunged at a record 44.3%, after falling 1.2% in the prior month.

South Africa's manufacturing production shrank 5.4 percent from a year ago in March of 2020, following an upwardly revised 2.3 percent decline in the previous month. It was the tenth consecutive month of decreases in industrial activity. Main negative contributions came from basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-8.5 percent); petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-5.8 percent); motor vehicles, parts & accessories and other transport equipment (-13 percent); wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-4.9 percent) and glass and non-metallic mineral products (-13.5 percent). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production went down 1.2 percent, after an upwardly revised 2.6 percent decrease in the prior month.