https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Africa|Business|Manufacturing|Manufacturing
Africa|Business|Manufacturing|Manufacturing
africa|business|manufacturing|manufacturing-industry-term

South African factory mood sours in October

Factory

Photo by Creamer Media

3rd November 2025

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

South Africa's manufacturing sentiment deteriorated in October, dragged down by subdued domestic demand and sluggish exports, a purchasing managers' index (PMI) survey showed on Monday.

The seasonally-adjusted PMI sponsored by South African bank Absa fell to 49.2 points in October from 50.8 in September, highlighting "the fragility of the manufacturing recovery," Absa said in a statement.

A reading below 50 indicates decreased activity.

The business activity sub-index dropped by 5 points to 49.4, marking the ninth month this year it has been in contractionary territory.

Another sub-index tracking expected business conditions in six months dropped more than 3 points to 46.1.

"Business confidence remains low as the sector continues to navigate external trade constraints, supply-side uncertainty, and cost volatility," Absa said.

South Africa's government is trying to convince US President Donald Trump to lower the 30% tariff he imposed on South African exports to the United States in August, but so far there has been no breakthrough.

Edited by Reuters

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

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

Comments

Showroom

Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies
Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies

Established on 1 March, 2000, by Barries Barnard, Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies (AFST) and the Advanced Group stands as Sub-Saharan...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
ECG Engineering
ECG Engineering

ECG provides specialised electrical engineering services to the Mining, Utilities, Materials Handling and Industrial industries, with extensive and...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

An image showing the Africa Trade Engine launch
Pioneering Africa Trade Engine launched to actualise AfCFTA
14th November 2025 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

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







sq:0.243 0.337s - 208pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now