Manufacturing production decreased by 0.7% year-on-year in January, owing to weaker activity in the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division; and the basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division.

According to Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) production and sales results for January, manufacturing for the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division decreased by 11%, contributing -1.3 percentage points, while manufacturing in the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division decreased by 5.7%, contributing -1.2 percentage points.

While seven divisions recorded stronger year-on-year growth, this was not enough to lift the industry into positive territory, Stats SA industry statistics director Nicolai Claassen has reported.

He explains that the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division was the most significant positive contributor, expanding by 6.7% year-on-year, and contributing 1.4 percentage points.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 1.5% in January, compared with December 2025.

This followed month-on-month changes of -1.3% in December and -2.2% in November.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 1.7% in the three months ended January compared with the previous three months.

Stats SA reports that seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

Manufacturing in the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division declined by 3.3% and contributed -0.7 of a percentage point, while motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment declined by 6.4% and contributed -0.5 of a percentage point.

Food and beverages production declined by 1.7% and contributed -0.4 of a percentage point.

SALES RESULTS

Meanwhile, Stats SA notes that seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased by 2.8% in January, compared with December.

This followed month-on-month changes of -4.5% in December and -0.7% in November.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales decreased by 3.3% in the three months ended January compared with the previous three months.

The largest negative contributions were made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division, which declined by 15.8% and contributed -2.4 percentage points, and the food and beverages division which declined by 1.9% and contributed -0.5 of a percentage point.