South Africa: Manufacturing production recovers in January
Latest reading: Manufacturing production rose 1.5% in seasonally adjusted month-on-month terms in January, following a 1.3% drop in the previous month. January’s reading was the strongest since May 2025.
Relative to the previous month’s data, readings in January improved for food and beverages (+0.4% on a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis vs -2.2% in December) and basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (+1.9% vs -2.9% in December). In contrast, readings worsened for petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-3.7% vs +2.5% in December) and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-0.3% vs +3.1% in December).
In annual terms, manufacturing output fell 0.7% in January, following a 1.5% decline in the previous month.