Stats SA has announced that manufacturing production fell by 0.8 in March compared to the same period last year. This marked the fifth consecutive month of decline in industrial activity, although it was the mildest in the sequence.
The largest negative contributors were petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products and electrical machinery.
On a monthly basis, production decreased by 2.2 in March 2025 compared to February 2025. On a quarterly basis, production decreased by 2.3 in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
Seven of the ten manufacturing industries have negative growth rates over this period. These include petroleum, chemical products, food and beverage, motor vehicles, and transportation equipment.
This latest data correlates with the Absa Purchasing Managers Index released last week, which showed the pressure the sector is under, with several indices falling.
