SA August manufacturing production down 0.2% y/y
Manufacturing production decreased by 0.2% year on year after increasing by a downwardly revised 5.3% (5.6%) in July, Statistics SA data showed on Thursday.
The decline in output was due to weak production in the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery manufacturing division.
Higher production in the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products; and food and beverages, was not enough to offset the decline in the output of basic iron and steel.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.4% in August compared with July (month on month) following a 0.1% increase in July and 1.0% increase in June.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production fell by 0.3% in the three months ended August compared with the previous three months, with six of the ten manufacturing divisions having reported declines over this period.
The main contributor to the 0.3% decrease was yet again the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales decreased by 0.1% in August compared with July.