South Africa’s manufacturing production fell by 1.7% year-on-year in June 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 4.4% drop in May and remaining in contraction for a third consecutive month. The declines in food and beverages (-3.9% vs -5.8%) and in wood, wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-8.9% vs -12.9%) moderated.
At the same time, output returned to growth in several categories: glass and non-metallic mineral products (1.2% vs -8.3%), basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (0.1% vs -5.8%), as well as radio, television and communication equipment and professional equipment (3.3% vs -4.5%). Growth in petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastics slowed to 1.2% from 2.3%.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased by 0.9% in June, following a revised 1% rise in May. Over the first half of the year, manufacturing production contracted by 1.7% compared with the same period a year earlier.
