South Africa’s manufacturing sector returned to growth in May 2026, with production rising 1.1% month-over-month, according to data updated on 09 July 2026. The increase marks a clear turnaround from April 2026, when manufacturing output fell by 2.6% compared with March.
The latest figures, measured on a month-over-month basis, show that the sector has begun to recover some lost ground after April’s contraction. In this comparison, the “actual” reading for May reflects the change from April, while the “previous” figure captures April’s change relative to March.
The move back into positive territory suggests that the April decline may have been temporary, although the scale and durability of the rebound will become clearer with the next set of monthly data. For now, the 1.1% gain offers an early sign of stabilization in South Africa’s manufacturing activity heading into mid-2026.
