https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Africa|Business|Export|Health|supply-chain
Africa|Business|Export|Health|supply-chain
africa|business|export|health|supply chain

Business conditions improve for fifth consecutive month, PMI shows

Business

Photo by Creamer Media

3rd October 2025

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

Business conditions in South Africa's private sector improved for the fifth month running in September, buoyed by a rise in output and new orders, S&P Global reported on Friday.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) edged up to 50.2 in September from 50.1 in August, indicating a mild improvement in the sector's health. PMI readings above 50 signal growth, while those below indicate contraction.

The uptick in activity was underpinned by a sustained easing of cost pressures, with input prices rising at their slowest rate in nearly a year.

Only 3% of surveyed firms reported a month-on-month increase in costs, aided by a favourable exchange rate against the US dollar and lower headcounts.

Despite the positive momentum, business expectations for the year ahead fell to their lowest level since July 2021, with concerns over economic and political uncertainty cited for dampening sentiment.

"Another softening of price pressures in September is a further boon to South African companies, suggesting that CPI inflation could decline again from its recent high in July," said David Owen, Senior Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Headline consumer inflation in Africa's largest economy fell to 3.3% year-on-year from 3.5% in July, lower than the 3.6% forecast of economists polled by Reuters.

Employment levels continued to fall for the second consecutive month, attributed largely to difficulties in finding staff replacements. However, the rate of job losses slowed compared to August.

The survey also highlighted an improvement in export orders for the first time since March, driven by stronger demand from African markets, which offset weaker orders from the US and Europe.

Supply chain conditions showed signs of improvement, with delivery times shortening for the sixth consecutive month, the longest sequence of improvement in the survey's history.

Edited by Reuters

Article Enquiry

Feedback

Email Article

Save Article

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comments

Latest Multimedia

Latest News

Photo of Terence Creamer
Mixed reaction to IRP 2025
24th October 2025 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Showroom

Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Flameblock
Flameblock

FlameBlock is a proudly South African company that engineers, manufactures and supplies fire intumescent and retardant products to the fire...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.124 0.21s - 165pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now