South Africa’s manufacturing sector returned to growth at the start of 2026, with production rising 1.5% month-over-month in January. The rebound follows a 1.2% decline in December 2025, according to data updated on 12 March 2026.
On a month-over-month basis, January’s figure marks a clear turnaround in momentum, as the sector moved from contraction into expansion. The comparison reflects how manufacturing output in January 2026 performed relative to December 2025, while the prior reading showed December’s output versus November 2025.
The shift into positive territory may signal stabilizing conditions in South African industry after the year-end weakness, and will likely be watched closely by analysts for indications that the recovery can be sustained in the coming months.
