South Africa’s manufacturing production decreased by 1.2% year-on-year in December, according to a report by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released on February 11.

The largest negative contributions were made by the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division, which recorded a 6% contraction and contributed -1.2 percentage points overall, along with the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division which contracted by 20.8% and contributed -1.2 percentage points to the total.

The largest positive contribution was made by the food and beverages division, which enjoyed a 5.8% year-on-year boost and which contributed 1.7 percentage points to total manufacturing production.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 2.4% in December compared with November. This followed month-on-month changes of -1.3% in November and 1.3% in October.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the third quarter of 2024. Six of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

Stats SA reported that the largest negative contributions were reported for the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division, which saw a contraction of 2.7% and contributed -0.6 of a percentage point, and the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division, which contracted by 2.5% and contributed -0.2 of a percentage point.

In 2024, total yearly manufacturing production decreased by 0.4% compared with 2023. The largest negative contributions were made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division, which contracted by 13.3% and contributed -1.2 percentage points, and the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division, which contracted by 2.9% and contributed -0.6 of a percentage point.

The largest positive contributions for the total yearly production rate were made by the food and beverages division, which increased by 3.7% and contributed 0.9 of a percentage point, and the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division, which grew by 2.6% and contributed 0.5 of a percentage point.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased by 1.4% in December compared with November. This followed month-on-month changes of -2.9% in November and 2.8% in October.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales decreased by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the third quarter of 2024. The largest negative contributions were made by the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division, which declined by 2.6% and contributed -0.5 of a percentage point, and the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division, which decreased by 2.0% and contributed -0.4 of a percentage point.

The largest positive contribution was made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division, which increased by 3.1% and contributed 0.5 of a percentage point.