South Africa’s manufacturing sector returned to growth in July 2026, with production rising 1.1% year-over-year, according to data updated on 10 September 2026. This marks a notable turnaround from June 2026, when manufacturing output fell 1.7% compared with the same month a year earlier.
The July figures, measured on a year-over-year basis, indicate that the sector has moved out of contraction after the setback in June. The “actual” July reading compares output in July 2026 with July 2025, while the “previous” June reading reflected the change between June 2026 and June 2025. Market participants will be watching upcoming releases closely to see whether July’s improvement signals the start of a sustained recovery in South African manufacturing.
