South Africa: Manufacturing production declines for the eighth month running in January
On an annual basis, manufacturing output fell 2.0% in January, after a 5.9% drop in December which had marked the worst result since August 2014. The milder contraction reflected softer declines in output of food and beverages; glass and non-metallic mineral products; and production of petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products; and of motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment.
Meanwhile, annual average variation in manufacturing output logged minus 1.1% in January, down from December’s minus 0.8%.
On a month-on-month basis, manufacturing output rose 2.5% in January, contrasting a 3.0% fall in the previous month.