South Africa: Manufacturing output loses steam in May
The manufacturing sector decelerated in May, with the annual growth of production slowing to 1.0% from a revised 4.3% expansion in April (previously reported: +4.6% year-on-year). The slowdown was underpinned by a swing to contraction in wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing; metals, machinery and motor vehicles industries.
Meanwhile, annual average growth in manufacturing output inched down to 1.4% from 1.5% in May.
On a month-on-month basis, manufacturing output fell 1.5% in seasonally-adjusted terms (April: +2.5% month-on-month s.a.).